The Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks prohibits open fires in Quebec in forests or near them in almost all inhabited areas of Quebec as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

This decision, announced on Monday evening in cooperation with the Société de Protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), was made in light of the weather conditions that have developed in certain sectors of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie, and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions.

For several days now, Quebec has not experienced rainfall, and Environment Canada's forecasts predict dry weather for a few more days in several areas, increasing the risk of forest fires.

Currently, there are 12 active fires in Quebec, especially in the northern areas, from Abitibi-Témiscamingue to the North Shore in the east.

SOPFEU reported that 138 forest fires have affected 114.2 hectares. The average number of fires in the past ten years on the same date was 102 fires over an area of 82.4 hectares.