15 new forest fires south of Kuujjuaq
Fires were detected 200 kilometres south of Kuujjuaq, all caused by lightning.
The sky over Kuujjuaq is smoky this week as forest fires burning about 200 kilometres south of the village blanketed communities along Ungava Bay. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)
The 15 forest fires now burning about 200 kilometres south of Kuujjuaq are the cause for the smoke covering the Ungava Bay communities, Quebec’s forest fire prevention organization says.
In the past few days, thick smog clouded Kuujjuaq and other communities in the Ungava Bay area. On July 2, SOPFEU reported 15 new fires south of Nunavik’s biggest community. All of them were caused by lightning, according to updates on the organization’s website.
The main clusters of fires are located along Caniapiscau River, near Cambrian Lake, and along Whale River. All combined, they are burning approximately 2.3 hectares of forest.
Elsewhere in Nunavik, one of the two fires reported raging in Kangiqsuallujuaq earlier this week has stopped but another remains active on 21.1 hectares of forest.
Environment and Climate Change Canada confirmed the air quality has improved since Tuesday and Wednesday, but there is still a high concentration of fine particulate matter in the air.
It is still recommended to wear a mask for any outdoor activities, according to a special air quality statement issued by the federal environment department.
It was hot as it was smoky. People just went to the beach even at the peak Smokey time. It’s understandable, to get cooled off, but it’s still not good to be out. Maybe some people don’t understand the seriousness of the smoke, and authorities need to recognize this , and announce it. The regional health put a few alerts on Facebook, but I never heard any thing from the municipal authorities. Little kids and even older people at the beach.