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Prevention and Communications
The fight against wildfires starts long before the flames.
A multidisciplinary team of communication and prevention specialists is on the front lines to inform, engage, and help shift behaviours among Quebecers. Creative, agile, and strategic, this team works to raise public awareness about the actions we can all take to reduce the number of human-caused wildfires and better protect communities and homes from vegetation fires. Whether through impactful advertising campaigns, social media posts, video clips, or educational tools for children, the team makes sure the right message reaches the right people at the right time.
An approach based on transparency and accessibility
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Rooted in an approach grounded in transparency and accessibility, this team also serves as the official spokesperson for SOPFEU. It ensures that every public statement reflects the organization’s rigour, expertise, and mission. During wildfire events, the team provides high-quality information on firefighting operations and the provincial situation.
In this role, team members are integrated into the Incident Command System (ICS), where they take on the role of Information Officer—whether at the Provincial Fire Centre (PFC), Regional Fire Centres (RFC), or directly in the field when a major fire management team is deployed. Regional advisors also act as primary contacts for Regional Civil Security Organizations (RCSOs), municipalities, and Indigenous communities. Through their ability to adapt quickly, simplify complex issues, and build bridges between stakeholders, these communications specialists become strategic assets during emergencies.
The team is also responsible for managing SOPFEU’s digital platforms, including the website, mobile app (App Store / Google Play), and social media. It plays a key role in public and media relations, as well as in internal communications, supporting both head office and regional management teams.
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Useful Links
A Strong Regional Presence
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To respond to the specific realities of each region of Quebec, SOPFEU relies on a strong regional presence. A prevention and communications advisor, along with a regional wildfire prevention officer, is assigned to each of the three regional offices. At headquarters in Québec City, a coordinator and three advisors support all operations and ensure province-wide consistency in messaging.
Functioning as a true in-house communications hub, this team operates under a matrix structure that links headquarters with the three regional offices. It produces a wide range of communication tools internally: video clips, printed materials, visual content, educational resources, photos, radio messages, and more. The team also designs and delivers various public communication campaigns to support recruitment and strengthen SOPFEU’s brand image.
Thanks to its creativity, versatility, and deep understanding of the issues related to territorial protection, this team is a key pillar of SOPFEU’s mission.
Prevention Plan
At the core of the mandate entrusted to SOPFEU by the Government of Quebec lies a key priority: prevention. That’s why the team designs, updates, and implements a structured and ambitious three-year Prevention Plan. This plan sets out clear, measurable objectives for different target audiences, with communication and outreach strategies tailored to each group.
It’s not just about sharing information — it’s about creating lasting behaviour change, grounded in the realities on the ground. To achieve this, beyond advertising, traditional and digital media, printed materials, and promotional items, the team takes to the field through numerous visibility initiatives, including trade shows, open house events, festivals, and more. At outdoor events, the presence of the prevention vehicle always draws attention.
Objectives
The objectives of this plan are to:
Reduce the number of human-caused wildfires and the total area burned
Raise public awareness about wildfire risks
Promote risk mitigation principles for communities and homes
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Means to Achieve the Objectives
To achieve this, the team develops tailored approaches to effectively reach its various target audiences, including:
Youth and families
Residents of peri-urban areas
Outdoor enthusiasts
Forestry workers
Members of Indigenous communities
Every campaign, message, and action is designed to engage, empower, and foster a true culture of prevention—where everyone plays an active role in protecting communities, infrastructure, and forests from vegetation fires.
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Fire Danger Index
Each day, from the spring snowmelt to the first autumn flurries, SOPFEU calculates the Fire Danger Index for the entire province of Quebec. Based on the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System, this calculation considers vegetation mapping, current environmental data, and historical trends. The Prevention and Communications team is responsible for sharing this information with the public and key partners on a daily basis.
To effectively reach the public, the team distributes the index through multiple complementary channels: SOPFEU’s website and mobile app, more than 250 field signs placed strategically thanks to dedicated partners, widgets embedded on partner organization websites, and social media platforms. By making this information both accessible and visually impactful, the team encourages Quebecers to adjust their behaviour in forested areas and become active participants in wildfire prevention.
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Preventive Measures
When Forest Fire Weather Index values indicate conditions that not only favour the outbreak of wildfires but also the rapid spread of high-intensity fires, SOPFEU, in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, may implement various preventive measures, such as:
Suspending or cancelling industrial burn permits
Banning open-air fires
Restricting forestry operations
Closing or limiting access to forested areas
The Prevention and Communications team plays a key role in both the implementation and communication of these measures. Each action is supported by a targeted communication strategy. The team ensures that the affected audiences are informed quickly—whether through official press releases, SOPFEU’s digital platforms, or traditional media. It also works to ensure that messages are understood, shared, and followed, so that prevention efforts are as effective as possible.
Visit Our Prevention Pages
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Preventing Wildfires
Human activity is the leading cause of wildfires.
Each year, 80% of forest fires are caused by human activity. Learn about the main causes of wildfires — and how small actions can make a big difference.
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Protecting Your Home
It’s important to prepare communities and their residents to help reduce the potential impact in the event of a wildfire or vegetation fire.
In Quebec, vegetation fires can spread quickly and without warning. They can endanger public safety and pose serious threats to homes and infrastructure.
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Youth
Have you met Garofeu? This little striped chipmunk is a special wildfire prevention agent. Help him carry out his mission by sharing his safety tips with the whole family. Together, we can make a difference!