More than 130 fires covering 100 square kilometres of forest are burning in northern Quebec, making this summer one of the worst fire seasons in the province in half a century.Quebec's SOPFEU, the agency in charge of the province's forests, says up to 17 of the fires are burning out of control.
More than 1,000 firefighters, 20 water bombers and 90 helicopters are on the front lines trying to keep the flames from spreading.
Compared to last year's cooler summer, this summer extreme temperature is making things difficult for them. This week's rain has eased the danger somewhat, but there's more hot, dry weather in the forecast.
"This year it's dry. There's drought so its completely the opposite," said SOPFEU spokesperson Gerard Lacasse. "We're having the highest (fire) season since 1941."
Fire officials are especially worried about a fire burning near Lebel-Sur-Quevillon. Over the weekend, the fire forced 2,500 Hydro Quebec employees at the town's Eastmain construction site to leave.
Quebec has called for help -- 100 firefighters from the northeast U.S., another 100 from Alberta and more than 350 from the British Columbia forest service have answered the call.
"The guys are excited," said Mel Dunleavey of the B.C. forest service. "This is what we want to do and the opportunity to come to Quebec -- it doesn't happen very often for us, but they are very pleased."
In addition, water bombers were sent in from Newfoundland and Alberta in efforts to contain the blazes.
The worst fires are located in a triangle between Val d'Or, Matagami and Chibougamau in Northern Quebec.
Highway 109, the only road out of Matagami, has been closed since Friday evening. Police were escorting convoys on the road on Saturday.
SOPFEU says the majority fires were started by the lightning which struck the region last week.
The fire protection agency has issued a strict ban on campfires in many regions of Quebec, in the hopes of limiting the potential for more forest fires during the peak vacation season.