With wildfires raging in some regions, Quebec bans open fires in most of the province

As wildfires continue to rage onQuebec's North Shore and in the Saguenay region, the province'sfire prevention agency has announceda ban on open fires in most regions.

According to the Socit de protection des forts contre le feu(SOPFEU), there are currently 12active fires in Quebec, most of them under control.

One wildfire is currently burning along the Nipissis river northeastof Sept-les, covering an area of around 645hectares equivalent to about 903football fields. SOPFEU has been monitoring that fire since Sunday.

According to a spokesperson for SOPFEU, Isabelle Garipy, the fire doesn't pose a threat to any infrastructure at the moment.

"If the fire gets closer we'll have to find other ways to intervene," said Garipy.

Another fire in the Sagueneyregionforced about 50 people out of their homes in the municipality of Ferland-et-BoilleauonSunday night. SOPFEU says that fire is now under control.

It was the second fire to emerge in the region thatday following a fire inSaint-David-de-Falardeauthatwassparked by a downedelectrical wire.

In both cases, strong winds stoked thefires.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the fire risk will remain high this week in Quebec because of the hot and dry weather.

So far in 2023, 183 forest fires have affected 303 hectares in southern Quebec. The average for the last decade at this time of year is 185 fires affecting around 184 hectares.