Forest fires - AMENDMENT TO THE TERRITORY AFFECTED BY THE PROHIBITION ON THE ACCESS TO FORESTS ON LANDS IN THE DOMAIN OF THE STATE AND THE CLOSURE OF FOREST ROADS

QUÉBEC, July 2, 2023 /CNW/ - The ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF) has decided to amend the prohibition on the access to forests on lands in the domain of the State and the closure of forest roads announced on June 29, 2023. This decision was made in conjunction with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) due in particular to changing weather conditions, operational realities in the territory and the SOPFEU's response to fires. It therefore results in the partial lifting of the prohibition on part of the territory.

This amendment takes effect on July 3, 2023, at 8:00 a.m.

Here is the location map of the affected territory (in French only). The amendments to the measure mainly target the regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay?Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie and Côte-Nord.

The prohibition of access to a forest in lands in the domain of the State and road closures now applies to the following territory:

NORD-DU-QUÉBEC: Jamésie (991) for its portion south of latitude 49°10' and west of longitude 79°17', and for its portions bounded by the following coordinates:
78° 39' W 50° 28' N
77° 43' W 50° 28' N
77° 43' W 50° 06' N
78° 39' W 50° 06' N
AND
77° 25' W 49° 52' N
76° 26' W 49° 52' N
76° 12' W 49° 27' N
75° 48' W 49° 27' N
75° 28' W 49° 42' N
75° 13' W 49° 42' N
74° 50' W 49° 25' N
74° 50' W 49° 00' N
77° 19' W 49° 00' N
77° 25' W 49° 16' N
AND
78° 22' W 54° 51' N
71° 00' W 54° 51' N
71° 00' W 53° 59' N
72° 52' W 52° 20' N 
76° 48' W 52° 20' N 
76° 48' W 54° 10' N  
78° 22' W 54° 10' N
AND
76° 42' W 51° 22' N
72° 21' W 51° 22' N
72° 21' W 50° 53' N
73° 52' W 49° 58' N
73° 54' W 50° 02' N
74° 35' W 50° 02' N
75° 21' W 50° 29' N
76° 42' W 50° 29' N
Eeyou Istchee (Waswanipi for its portion west of the line bounded by the following points:
76° 23' W 49° 46' N
76° 20' W 49° 41' N
Mistissini, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Nemiscau, Wemindji) (993).

CÔTE-NORD: La Haute-Côte-Nord (95) for its portion south of latitude 50°, north of latitude 49°25' and west of longitude 69°33', Manicouagan (96) for its portion bounded by the following coordinates:
68° 56' W 49° 47' N
68° 25' W 49° 47' N
68° 25' W 49° 28' N
68° 56' W 49° 28' N

SAGUENAY?LAC-SAINT-JEAN: Le Domaine-du-Roy (91) for its portion north of the following coordinates:
73° 54' W 50° 02' N
73° 48' W 49° 52' N
73° 33' W 49° 52' N
Maria-Chapdelaine (92) for its portion north of the following coordinates:
72° 21' W 50° 53' N
72° 21' W 50° 38' N
73° 11' W 50° 13' N
73° 11' W 49° 52' N
73° 33' W 49° 52' N
Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) for its portion bounded to the east by longitude 70° 17', to the north by latitude 49° 25', and to the south by latitude 50°.

ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE: Abitibi-Ouest (87) for its portion north of latitude 48°54' and west of longitude 79°17', Abitibi (88) for its portion east of the line bounded by the following points:
77° 19' W 49° 00' N
77° 11' W 48° 34' N
La Vallée-de-l'Or (89) for its portion northeast of the following coordinates:
77° 11' W 48° 34' N
77° 04' W 48° 13' N
76° 02' W 48° 13' N
75° 31' W 48° 29' N

MAURICIE: La Tuque (90) for its portion located inside the following coordinates:
75° 31' W 49° 00' N
74° 50' W 49° 00' N
74° 50' W 48° 51' N
75° 31' W 48° 29' N

The Department would like to remind the public that, at a time when major fires are raging in certain areas of Québec, greater caution must be taken. The collaboration of all forest users is essential to protecting our forests and ensuring public safety.

In addition, the prohibition on open fires in or near the forest and the restriction on forest work are still in effect in some areas. For the boundaries of the affected territories and the periods covered by the restriction, please refer to the Restrictions section of the SOPFEU website.

For information on changes to the affected territory, please visit the Gouvernement du Québec's Forest Fires webpage, the SOPFEU website, the Forêt ouverte interactive map or contact Services Québec toll-free at 1-877-644-4545.

Related links:

For information on the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts or to learn more about its activities and achievements, visit mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/en or its social media:

• twitter.com/mrnfqc
• facebook.com/RessourcesNaturellesForets
• linkedin.com/company/ressourcesnaturellesforets
• youtube.com/RessourcesNaturellesForets
• instagram.com/mrnfqc

Information for citizens:

Toll-free number
1-877-644-4545

Information for media representatives:

Media relations
Ministère des Ressources naturelles
et des Forêts
[email protected]

SOURCE Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts