Perilous Times and Climate Change
Canada: Raging forest fires continue to wreak havoc across Quebec
The forest fires burning in central and northern Quebec have forced
some 2,000 people from four native comminutes out of their homes. (May
28, 2010)
Updated: Fri May. 28 2010 6:14:21 PM
ctvmontreal.ca
About 60 forest fires continue to burn in central and northern Quebec,
and more than a dozen are considered out of control.
Hot, dry conditions have made the effort to contain the fires more
difficult, although firefighters said conditions had improved slightly
on Friday, due to lighter winds and somewhat milder temperatures.
About 2,000 people have been forced out of four native communities,
including the Wemotaci reserve.
Some 1,300 people living there left their homes this week, and since
Tuesday many have been sheltered in a school in La Tuque.
About 200 are sleeping in an arena, while others are staying in hotels,
or with friends and family.
Few comforts
Tommy Awascish has been staying with friends, but spending his days at
the school.
"It's going to be a lot of work to do, lots of clean up," said
Awascish. "I don't know what's going to happen next. I heard I'm going
to be here up to ten days."
Locals are trying to make the stay as comfortable as possible for the
evacuees.
Friday morning a group of auxiliary nurses dropped off clothes, diapers
and toys for people who did not have time to pack before leaving their
homes.
Alexandra Awachiche says she feared for the safety of her four
daughters.
"One of my friends has a truck, we got all my grandchildren in that
truck at the back, and we left like that," Awachiche said. "We began to
cry when the truck took us away."
Finding a place for everyone to stay will also become difficult.
The city of La Tuque says it needs the school where people are staying
for another event on Monday.
Wemotaci threatened before
This is the second time in the past 13 years that the Wemotaci
community has been threatened by forest fires.
Water bombers, along with 80 firefighters in the village, have been
able to limit the damage, but even when it is safe for residents to
return, the Aboriginal Affairs minister says significant repairs will
be needed.
"The grid is destroyed by the fire, so we have to establish first with
generators, to support the water supply in the community," said Pierre
Corbeil.
Throughout the province, lower temperatures on Friday are making it
easier for the firefighters.
14 water bombers and 50 helicopters have been deployed to fight the
wildfires, along with 800 people on the ground.
Manawan reserve evacuated
An evacuation order was issued Thursday for the residents of the
Manawan reserve, in the Lanaudiere, where two forest fires are burning.
Grand Chief Eva Ottawa says the fire is heading toward the reserve.
"The smoke and the fire is very close to the community. It's maybe 20
km from the reserve," said Ottawa.
A group of 475 people made a three-hour trip to Joliette on buses, and
they are staying in the town's arena.
Residents had time to pack, but some are still finding it difficult to
cope.
"I didn't see the fire but I feel like I lost everything because
there's fire on the territory," said Niquay Ottawa, the chief's cousin.
"I don' know how to explain but it's really hard."
The Red Cross and the CLSC are keeping everyone fed, and people have
been provided with cots or inflatable mattresses.
Another group of 125 people from the same reserve are staying at
another community centre, while 500 are staying in hotels, or with
family members.
Out of province help
Quebec has asked for help from other provinces and states, and it is
arriving.
Two dozen firefighters are coming from Maine, while the province of
Manitoba is sending two water bombers.
Firefighters are also travelling to Quebec from Massachusetts and New
Brunswick.
Meanwhile provincial authorities may issue a decree barring people from
the fire zones.
That would frustrate cottage owners, or people who fish and camp in the
region.
For now, the Surete du Quebec has blocked off two roads leading to the
largest fires, and they scouring the area to ensure that no one is
trapped by the flames.
"We are concentrating our effort to go in the zones where the smoke is
most dense," said Eloise Cossette of the SQ. "We go there with the
helicopter in those zones to verify, check if everything is okay."