The threat of spring is coming much sooner than expected

An achievement

A fire hazard was reported by SOPFEU this Thursday March 7. According to the company that opened some of the weather stations, this is the most urgent risk in history. In fact, the event occurs a month earlier than average. It's no stranger to the mildest winter the province has ever experienced, but there's an absolute benchmark that's encouraging officials to push ahead in the spring.

“It's a snow-covered situation,” says Philippe Bergeron, SOPFEU prevention and communications officer. Dead fall foliage dries out within hours and becomes highly flammable. On an average, weather stations open in the first week of April.

High risk

SOPFEU has issued a high fire danger for Outauais and Pontiac. Also worth a visit are Montérégie and Estrie on Friday 8 March. In these areas, the snow has disappeared. Additionally, rainfall was less in winter. Conditions are ripe for a very active wildfire season in Quebec. In its 2024 spring forecast, Meteo Media experts told the public that such a threat is very real due to this year's mild winter with little snow.

human activity

Officials are warning people about the risk of forest fires depending on the region of Quebec. However, according to data collected by SOPFEU, cigarette butts cause 80 percent of fires. Thunderstorms also cause fires, but on a smaller scale.

“In the spring, there are an average of 275 forest fires,” explains Philippe Bergeron. The main causes are cigarette butts, poorly extinguished fires and garbage burning fires. People clear their land and burn residues, branches and dead leaves. They later escaped the fire. »

With the collaboration of Nicholas Lessard, meteorologist.

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