As wildfires continue to rage on, thousands of people were forced to leave their homes after evacuations were ordered in two more communities in northern Quebec.
Quebec Premier François Legault was set to give an update on the situation Wednesday. SOPFEU, the province’s forest fire prevention agency, reported 150 active forest fires as of 10:15 a.m. — the majority of which are out of control.
Evacuation orders were issued for Chibougamau, a city of about 7,500 in the central region of the province, as well as for the nearby Cree community of Ouje-Bougoumou. Officials ordered the evacuations Tuesday night due to approaching forest fires and shifting winds in the north.
Legault has also said the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region in northwestern Quebec is also an area of particular concern, with the communities of Normetal and Lebel-sur-Quevillon under threat.
Meanwhile, Environment Canada has issued smog warnings and special air quality advisories for large swaths of Quebec, spanning from James Bay to Montreal.
The weather agency says conditions should improve gradually throughout the day in Montreal, where skies are hazy and a smoky smell has blanketed some parts.
Children with asthma and adults with respiratory illnesses or heart disease are advised to avoid intense physical activity outside until the smog warnings are lifted.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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