The province of Quebec experienced an intense wildfire season in July, as reported by the Quebec forest fire protection agency (SOPFEU). The heightened wildfire activity was primarily attributed to an increase in lightning strikes.
In the designated protection zone, a total of 90 fires occurred in July, affecting approximately 1,675 hectares of forest land. This marked a significant rise from the average of 66 fires and 1,115 hectares burned in recent years.
SOPFEU highlighted that 41 percent of the fires in July were ignited by lightning strikes, making it the primary cause of wildfires during the month. This surpassed other causes such as improperly extinguished campfires, forestry and industrial operations, smoking-related incidents, electrical wires, and waste burning.
The agency’s report emphasized that July experienced above-normal temperatures, a shortage of precipitation in western Quebec and the North Shore, and consistent winds with occasional strong gusts. The volatile atmospheric conditions led to an exceptional amount of thunderstorm activity, with a record 243,363 lightning strikes recorded across the province—nearly triple the average over the past seven years.
The majority of the fires were concentrated in Northern Quebec (22), Abitibi-Témiscamingue (16), the North Shore (11), and the Outaouais (10) regions. In Northern Quebec alone, 45 new fires ravaged 16,099 hectares, all sparked by lightning strikes. Several ongoing fires from late June also posed threats to local communities and critical infrastructure.
To combat the wildfires, SOPFEU enlisted the help of over 220 wildland firefighters from provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, as well as from certain U.S. states. By the end of July, the situation was deemed “under control,” enabling SOPFEU to assist firefighting teams from British Columbia dealing with their own extensive wildfire challenges.
