Campfires banned across Quebec, as conditions for forest fires upgraded to 'extreme'

The government may have given the green light toQuebecers to gather outside in groups of 10 starting Friday, but it is the worst time of the year to think of having an evening bonfire.

SOPFEU, Quebec's forest fire prevention agency,has issued a ban on all open campfires across the province. The risk of forest fires was upgraded to extreme this week in almost every region of southern Quebec.

With dry grass and trees still in bud, spring conditions are the most conducive to the spread of fire, according to Mlanie Morin, a prevention and communications officerfor SOPFEU. This has been a particularly warm, dry spring.

"On the ground, the branches, the twigs, the grass, the hay it is very dry," said Morin."It only takes a bit of wind, and things can get out of hand very quickly."

As of Thursday, there were240 fires burning across Quebec. Theaverage for this time of year is 134.

Morin said the high number of firesis partly due to the relatively dryspring. Every single fire has been started accidentally by humans traced back toa campfire thatspread or people are burning leaves or grass in their backyards.

"Whenever there is a spark or whenever somebody does not follow the current fire ban,fires can very easily get away from them," Morin said.

COVID-19 added risk factor

Most of this spring's fires originatednear urban areas and were controlled fairly rapidly, Morin said. There haven't been any major forest fires so far.

The largest one, a little under a square kilometre in size,is currently burning north of Sept-les, on the North Shore, andis considered to be contained. Like in all the other cases, Morin said, the loss of forestwas "entirely preventable."

SOPFEU is asking people to be even more cautious because of the pandemic.

"We want to protect our municipal firefighters from going out on very preventable fires on a needless forest fire," said Morin.

The dry, warm conditions are expected to continue inthe coming days in southern Quebec.