Provincial status report

Spring 2025 has so far been quiet for SOPFEU crews. Thanks to favourable weather conditions and the public’s vigilance in fire prevention, the number of human-caused fires has been more than twice as low as the average for recent years. This situation allows SOPFEU to maintain a preparedness level of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5.

Recent rainfall has helped keep the fire danger index low to moderate across Quebec. However, with sunny weather expected to return on Saturday, the index is forecast to rise starting Sunday and into early next week.

Summer conditions are settling in across all regions of Quebec. At this stage, surface fires (dead leaves, dry grasses, etc.) are generally less frequent than in the spring, since greenery and leaf-out of trees and shrubs are complete and vegetation has reached full maturity. However, any fires that may occur are more likely to burn deeper into the ground and be more intense.

SOPFEU reminds the public that continued caution is essential as summer approaches—a season that is particularly conducive to the outbreak of large forest fires.

Support for Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta

Quebec’s stable fire situation allows SOPFEU to support other Canadian provinces currently facing more significant fire activity.

• Saskatchewan: Deployment of two CL-415 airtankers and their crews.

• Ontario: Deployment of two additional CL-415 airtankers and a twin-engine Navajo PA31 aircraft equipped with the VeriMap infrared detection system, along with its crew.

• Alberta: Deployment of a team of 11 major fire management specialists.

• Manitoba: Deployment of 60 wildland firefighters to support ongoing operations.

SOPFEU remains fully engaged in protecting Quebec’s communities, strategic infrastructure, and forests, while also showing solidarity with its partners across the country.

After several days of fine weather that pushed fire danger higher across the territory, a cold front will move from west to east starting Tuesday. This should bring enough rain by Thursday to lower fire danger across the entire province.

SOPFEU is nonetheless urging the public to exercise extra caution as we approach the summer season, which is particularly conducive to the outbreak of large-scale forest fires.

Assistance to Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta

It should be noted that the situation prevailing in Quebec allows SOPFEU to support its partners in other Canadian provinces.

To this end, two CL-415s and their crews are deployed in Saskatchewan.

Two CL-415s and their crews, as well as a twin-engine Navajo PA31 aircraft equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system and its crew, are also deployed in Ontario.

A team of 11 major fire management specialists has been deployed in Alberta.

Finally, 60 forest firefighters are on the ground lending a hand to their colleagues in Manitoba.

A cold front over the St. Lawrence Valley will bring rain and thunderstorms and will move toward the eastern part of the province this weekend. The expected rainfall will lower the fire danger. However, the western part of the province may remain dry, which could lead to a significant increase in fire danger on Sunday. The regions most at risk include Mauricie, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and parts of Northern Québec.

SOPFEU is urging the public to exercise extra caution as the summer season approaches, a period particularly conducive to the outbreak of large wildfires.

Support to Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta

Current conditions in Québec allow SOPFEU to support its partners in other Canadian provinces.

To this end, two CL-415 aircraft and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan.

Two additional CL-415s and their crews, along with a Navajo PA31 twin-engine aircraft equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system and its crew, have been deployed to Ontario.

An 11-member Incident Management Team specializing in large fire operations has been deployed to Alberta.

Lastly, 60 wildland firefighters are currently on the ground assisting their counterparts in Manitoba.

Good weather is settling in across much of the province. This will increase the risk of wildfires at the beginning of the week, especially in the western part of the province. Rainfall expected around Thursday should help reduce the fire danger.

SOPFEU is urging the public to be extra cautious as summer approaches, a season that is particularly favourable to the outbreak of large-scale wildfires.

Support to Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta

It’s worth noting that the current situation in Quebec allows SOPFEU to assist its partners in other Canadian provinces.

To that end, two CL-415 aircraft and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan.

Two CL-415 aircraft and their crews, along with a twin-engine Navajo PA31 equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system and its crew, have also been deployed to Ontario.

A team of 11 specialists in major wildfire management has been deployed to Alberta.

Finally, 60 wildland firefighters are currently on the ground providing support to their colleagues in Alberta.

After a mostly sunny week during which fire danger indices reached Extreme levels in several regions, upcoming periods of rain are expected to bring those indices down by the beginning of the week of June 2.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security, the preventive measures that were in place (open fire ban and restrictions on forest work) have therefore been lifted as of 8:00 p.m. on May 30.

However, the northwestern regions of the province may receive less precipitation, and fire danger indices there may continue to fluctuate between High and Extreme, particularly in the James Bay area.

Support to Saskatchewan and Ontario

It is worth noting that the current situation in Quebec allows SOPFEU to support its partners in other Canadian provinces.

To that end, two CL-415 aircraft and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan.

Two CL-415 aircraft and their crews, along with a twin-engine Navajo PA31 equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system and its crew, have also been deployed to Ontario.

At the beginning of the week, due to prevailing weather conditions, SOPFEU issued a “call for caution” to residents in northern regions of the province. The regions particularly affected include Nord-du-Québec, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, Mauricie, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

When SOPFEU issues a “call for caution,” it means that weather indices forecast not only favourable conditions for wildfire outbreaks, but also for high-intensity fires that can spread rapidly. SOPFEU is monitoring the situation very closely, as it anticipates the outbreak of several new fires in the coming days.

Preventive Measures

SOPFEU has suspended the issuance of industrial burning permits in high-risk areas. The fire protection agency is encouraging municipalities to do the same for domestic burning.

An open fire ban has also been issued by the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with SOPFEU. This ban comes into effect on May 28 at 8:00 a.m., and applies to the regions of Nord-du-Québec, Côte-Nord, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, and the northern parts of Mauricie, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and Bas-Saint-Laurent.

Additionally, SOPFEU has recommended restricting forestry operations starting May 28 in the same areas where the open fire ban is in effect.

Support to Saskatchewan and Ontario

Despite the current situation in Quebec, SOPFEU is still able to support its partners in other Canadian provinces.

To that end, two CL-415 aircraft and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan.

Another two CL-415s, along with a twin-engine Navajo PA31 equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system and its crew, have also been deployed to Ontario.

At the beginning of the week, due to prevailing weather conditions, SOPFEU issued a "call for caution" to residents in regions located in the northern part of the province. The regions most notably affected are Nord-du-Québec, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, and Côte-Nord.

When SOPFEU issues a "call for caution," it means that weather indices indicate conditions not only favourable to the outbreak of wildfires, but also to high-intensity fires that can spread quickly. SOPFEU is closely monitoring the situation, as it expects several new fires to break out over the coming days.

Preventive Measures

SOPFEU has suspended the issuance of industrial burning permits in high-risk areas. The fire protection agency is also encouraging municipalities to suspend domestic burning permits.

Additional preventive measures may be implemented in the coming hours in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security.

Assistance to Saskatchewan and Ontario

It is worth noting that the current situation in Quebec still allows SOPFEU to support its partners in other Canadian provinces.

To that end, two CL-415 aircraft and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan.

Two CL-415 aircraft and their crews, along with a twin-engine Navajo PA31 equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system and its crew, have also been deployed to Ontario.

The rain received over the past few days has significantly reduced the fire danger level. By Monday (May 26), only a few low-intensity surface fires are expected across the region. In the northern zone, the James Bay coast will need to be monitored over the coming days.

Leaf-out and greening are now well underway in many areas located in southern Quebec (south of the 48th parallel), where summer-like conditions are now present. In these regions, surface fires (dead leaves, brush, etc.) are already less common. However, any fires that do occur are more likely to burn deeper into the ground and exhibit greater intensity.

Spring conditions remain in effect across other parts of Quebec, except in northeastern regions of the province where snow cover is still present in the forest. In spring conditions, it’s important to stay vigilant as soon as the weather improves. Dead vegetation (brush, fallen leaves, etc.) tends to dry out very quickly with just a bit of sun and wind, becoming highly flammable.

It’s worth remembering that May is particularly prone to vegetation fires. Contrary to popular belief, May is the month when the highest number of wildfires occur in Quebec.

Support to Saskatchewan and Ontario

Given the current situation in Quebec, SOPFEU is able to provide assistance to its counterparts in other Canadian provinces. To this end, two CL-415 aircraft and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan. Additionally, a twin-engine Navajo PA31 aircraft equipped with a VeriMap infrared detection system, along with its crew, has been deployed to Ontario.

Spring conditions are now well established across all administrative regions of Québec, except for the northern parts of Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, and Côte-Nord.

It’s important to remember that May is a particularly high-risk month for the outbreak of vegetation fires. Contrary to popular belief, the highest number of wildfires in Québec typically occurs during May.

In the spring, as soon as the nice weather arrives, we must remain vigilant. Dead vegetation—such as brush and fallen leaves—tends to dry out quickly with a bit of sun and wind, becoming highly flammable.

Support to Saskatchewan and Ontario

Given the current situation in Québec, SOPFEU is in a position to support its partners in other Canadian provinces. Two CL-415 water bombers and their crews have been deployed to Saskatchewan. Two additional CL-415s and their crews are currently in Ontario.

With the snow cover having melted in parts of the territory along the coast, spring conditions favourable to wildfires are now present. As a result, SOPFEU has begun issuing the fire danger rating for this area. However, snow cover remains prevalent in forested areas across most of the region.

In spring, as soon as the weather starts to improve, vigilance is key. Dead vegetation (such as dry grass, dead leaves, etc.) tends to dry out very quickly with just a bit of sunshine and wind. These materials then become highly flammable.

Wildfire season is officially underway in Quebec. Although April was quieter than usual, the beginning of May is proving to be somewhat busier for SOPFEU teams and local fire departments.

SOPFEU gradually began issuing the fire danger rating as of April 3, 2025, in regions where the snow cover has disappeared. Currently, SOPFEU is publishing the fire danger index for the following regions:

• Estrie

• Montérégie

• Centre-du-Québec

• Montréal

• Laval

• Outaouais

• Laurentides

• Lanaudière

• Chaudière-Appalaches

As well as parts of the following regions:

• Mauricie

• Capitale-Nationale

• Bas-Saint-Laurent

• Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

• Abitibi–Témiscamingue

• Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine

• Côte-Nord

The rest of Quebec is still experiencing winter conditions, with substantial snow cover remaining in forested areas. In these northern regions, the wildfire risk is currently non-existent.

It’s important to remember that May is especially prone to the outbreak of vegetation fires. Contrary to popular belief, the greatest number of wildfires in Quebec occurs in May.

Indeed, in spring, as soon as the weather improves, it's important to stay alert. Dead vegetation (like brush, dry leaves, etc.) tends to dry out very quickly with even a bit of sun and wind, becoming highly flammable.

Although slightly later than usual, the wildfire season has officially begun, with over ten fires reported since the start of spring. The tenth fire is, in fact, a benchmark used by SOPFEU to mark the true beginning of wildfire season in Quebec.

The first fire of the season occurred in the municipality of Sutton, in the Estrie region, on April 15. The tenth fire was fought on April 24 in the municipality of Racine, also located in Estrie.

SOPFEU began gradually publishing the fire danger index on April 3, 2025, in regions where the snow cover has disappeared. Currently, the fire danger index is being published for the following regions:

• Estrie

• Montérégie

• Centre-du-Québec

• Montréal

• Laval

• Chaudière-Appalaches

As well as for parts of the following regions:

• Outaouais

• Laurentides

• Lanaudière

• Mauricie

• Capitale-Nationale

• Bas-Saint-Laurent

• Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

• Abitibi–Témiscamingue

The rest of Quebec is still experiencing winter conditions, with snow still covering the forests. In these more northern regions, the risk of wildfires is currently non-existent.

In the spring, as soon as the nice weather sets in, we must stay alert. Dead vegetation (brush, dry leaves, etc.) tends to dry out very quickly with a bit of sunshine and wind. It then becomes highly flammable.

SOPFEU began issuing the fire danger index on April 3, 2025, in southern regions where the snow cover had fully disappeared, namely Estrie, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec.

Since then, SOPFEU’s team of meteorologists has been monitoring the daily snowmelt in order to expand the area covered by the fire danger index. The regions of Montréal, Laval, and Chaudière-Appalaches have since been added, along with parts of Outaouais, Laurentides, Lanaudière, Mauricie, Capitale-Nationale, and Bas-Saint-Laurent.

The rest of the province is still experiencing winter conditions, with snow still present in forested areas, which means the risk of wildfires remains non-existent.

The first wildfire of the season occurred in the municipality of Sutton, in the Estrie region, on April 15. This is considered relatively late compared to the seasonal average.

In spring, as soon as the nice weather returns, it’s important to stay alert. Dead vegetation—such as dry grass, brush, and dead leaves—can dry out very quickly with just a bit of sun and wind, becoming highly flammable.

SOPFEU began publishing the Fire Danger Index on April 3, 2025, in the southern regions of the province—specifically where the snow cover has completely melted. This includes Estrie, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec. As soon as warm weather sets in, we need to stay vigilant. In spring, dead vegetation (such as dry grass and dead leaves) tends to dry out very quickly with just a bit of sunshine and wind, making it highly flammable.

The rest of Quebec is still experiencing winter conditions, with snow still present in the forested areas. As a result, the risk of wildfires in those regions is currently non-existent.

SOPFEU began broadcasting the Fire Danger Index on April 3, 2025, in the southern regions where the snow cover has completely disappeared. These regions include Estrie, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec. In these areas, the fire risk remains low for now. However, as soon as the warm weather arrives, vigilance will be required. In the spring, dead vegetation (brush, dead leaves, etc.) tends to dry out very quickly with a bit of sun and wind, making it highly flammable.

The rest of Quebec remains under winter conditions, with snow still covering the forests. As a result, the wildfire risk is non-existent in these areas.

Since the start of the wildfire protection season, no fires have been reported in Quebec.