Wildfire, Shifting Winds Force Evacuation of Northern Quebec Communities

Smoke rises from burning trees near Chapais, in Northern Quebec, on June 2, 2023 in this image provided by the fire prevention agency known as SOPFEU. (The Canadian Press/HO-SOPFEU Prevention and Communications-Audrey Marcoux)

Residents of two northern Quebec communities are the latest to be hastily evacuated as a result of the province’s wildfires.

Officials in Chibougamau and the nearby Cree community of Oujé-Bougoumou ordered the evacuations Tuesday night due to approaching forest fires and shifting winds in the north.

Chibougamau Mayor Manon Cyr announced the evacuation order for the town’s roughly 7,500 residents, asking those without family nearby to gather in Roberval, about 250 kilometres away.

In Oujé-Bougoumou, about 800 people were ordered to leave and advised shelter would be provided in Chicoutimi, nearly 400 kilometres to the southeast.

Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency is reporting more than 150 forest fires burning in the province with just under 100 deemed out of control.

Premier François Legault is expected to speak to reporters later this morning on the forest fire situation in the province.