Most forest fires in eastern Quebec contained while situation stabilizes across province

Forest fires are stabilizing across Quebec with most of the fires burning in the east now under control, according to the province's forest fire agency.

"For the weekend, we can say it's going well," said a spokesperson for SOPFEU, Stphane Caron.

He said some fires continue to burn out of control in the centraland eastern parts of the province, notably around Mistissini, Lebel-sur-Quvillon and Normtal, but those fireshaven't worsened due to favourable weather conditions.

Quebec's Minister of Public Security Franois Bonnardel said the fires inAbitibi-Tmiscamingue, in northwestern Quebec,pose the greatest concern, during a news conference Saturday.

There,a fire is currently burning 500 metres from the municipality of Normtal though it has not progressed over the last two days, according to the supervisor of natural resources and energy development for New Brunswick, Bruno Pelletier.

"It hasn't really crossed the lines we built, that the SOPFEU built, everything is well on that front," said Pelletier.

Firefighters from New Brunswick have been concentrating their efforts in the east near Normtalwhile the team of French firefighters that touched down in Canada Thursday are being deployed today throughout central Quebec.

Bonnardel saidthere are 861 peopleon the groundfighting fires at the moment aided by 20 tank planes.

"The situation is improving day by day," he said.

As of Saturday morning, there are 133fires burning in Quebec affecting over 900,000 hectares.

Bonnardel saidhe suspects the fight against forest fires will last the span of summer.

"The battle isn't won," he said.

According to SOPFEU, the fires are expected to intensify Monday after a long period of dryness.

"We have to get through Monday. After that we'll start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," said Caron.

He said SOPFEUhopes the rain forecasted Tuesday will be significant enough tohelp contain the fires.