Quebec lifts ban on open fires in forests
Ministry lifted restriction Saturday morning after weather conditions improved; fire danger had remained high across much of the province.
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Quebec's Ministry of Internal Security announced Saturday that it has completely lifted the ban on open fires in or near forests in the province. The decision took effect at 9 a.m., June 13.
The ministry made the decision in collaboration with SOPFEU, the provincial forest fire service. The ban had been imposed on June 9 due to prevailing fire conditions.
On Thursday, SOPFEU indicated that fire danger remained "high" to "extreme" in several areas of Quebec, but added that changes in weather conditions should help improve the situation. By Saturday, a low-pressure system brought showers and thunderstorms, mainly over western and central Quebec in the afternoon.
SOPFEU reports 202 fires since the start of the fire season, affecting 194 hectares. The average for the same period over the last 10 years is 241 fires burning 108,164 hectares of forest.