Abitibi-Témiscamingue

No new fires have occurred in the region over the past week due to lower fire danger and cooler, wetter weather conditions.

However, fire danger is expected to increase over the next few days with the return of sunnier and windier weather, particularly in areas where the snow cover has completely disappeared. Rainfall expected toward the end of the week should then help reduce the risk.

At this time of year, dead vegetation found in fields and around residences dries out rapidly and becomes highly flammable during periods of nice weather.

Rainfall in the middle of the week helped reduce the fire danger index, particularly in the Témiscamingue sector. SOPFEU’s team of meteorologists is closely monitoring the disappearance of the snow cover in order to gradually expand the area where the index is published.

At this time of year, the fire danger index can change rapidly. Dead vegetation, abundant in fields and around homes, dries out under the effect of sun and wind. These light fuels become highly flammable and increase the risk of wildfire during periods of warm, dry weather.

Warmer, drier, and sunnier conditions are expected in the coming days, which will help accelerate the melting of the remaining snow cover, particularly in the northern part of Abitibi.

In the Témiscamingue region, where the snow has already melted in many areas, the fire danger is now present and is expected to increase in the coming days.

In the spring, dead vegetation dries out quickly under the influence of the sun and wind. These light fuels, abundant in fields and around homes, then become highly flammable and increase the risk of fire during periods of good weather.

The region is still experiencing winter conditions, with snow well present in forested areas. The risk of wildfires there is therefore non-existent.