Lebel-sur-Quvillon, Que., evacuated again as wildfires approach town

The town of Lebel-sur-Quvillon,in northern Quebec, has ordered a mandatory evacuationbecause of the threat of a nearby wildfire.

The is the second time that the 2,000 residents have had to leave their homes in the last few weeks.

The town announced the evacuation order on its website on Thursday afternoon.

Hot, dry conditions added fuel to a number of wildfires that were burning near the town and remained out of control despite the efforts of Quebec's forest fire fighting agency, SOPFEU.

The firecut off one of the access roads leading to the town, Highway 113 north,MayorGuy Lafreniretold Lebel-sur-Quvillon residents during an emergency news conference.

That left just the southern road out, Highway 113 south, for residents to use to get out of the area.

Residents should leave their homes and take the 113 south to Val-d'Orand meet at the Centre Multisport Fournier at 125 Self St. The SPCA will be available to take care of pets.

Those without a means to leaveshould go to the Provigogrocery store at 53QuvillonPlace, where transportation willbegin toleave at 5 p.m., with a final departure at 6 p.m.

"Unfortunately we tried to tough it out part of the week but unfortunately we have to leave,"Lafrenire said.

About 900 residents of the town had already left because heavy smoke from the nearby fire was blanketing the town.

Earlier today,Julie Coupal, the assistant general manager SOPFEU, told reporters in Quebec City that the weather is making it harder to maintain control over fires that had previously been contained.Since the start of the week, four fires that had been contained were out of control again, she added.

"Of course, there's the risk of new fires breaking out, which is also serious,'' she said. "The large amount of smoke can make tanker plane operations difficult, that was the case for the last two days.''

Katia Petit, a senior Quebec civil security official, said no communities or essential infrastructure are immediately threatened by flames, but she added that heavy smoke has prompted voluntary evacuations in some municipalities.

Government increases compensation tied to evacuations

This afternoon, Public Security Minister Franois Bonnardel announced that the $1,500 compensation per household has been modified.

It will now be $1,500 per household for each time an evacuation order for their area is issued by authorities.

"Given the current forest fire situation, we have to unfortunately plan for situations wherecertain residents will have to vacate their home more than once," said Bonnardelin a statement.

"That's why we are taking action to support Quebecers by adapting our program to the exception circumstances we are living through."