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Quebec Fires: 52 Forest Fires Burning, Smog Warning Issued: Video
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by Amy Judd | May 31, 2010 at 08:07 am
3469 views | 11 Recommendations | 10 comments
Currently 52 Forest Fires Are Burning in Quebec and a Smog Warning Has Been Issued
Eight of the 52 forest fires are burning out of control according to the Montreal Gazette, and smoke is visible in the sky around Montreal this Monday morning.
According to the city's air quality monitoring alerts the areas of Ste. Anne de Vellevue and parts of downtown currently have the worst air quality due to smoke and smog, with readings over 50.
The forest fires are in northern Quebec and they have already forced the evacuation of about 2,500 people, but no villages in the region are currently at risk reports the Gazette.
Due to the heavy smoke and smog in the air however, residents are advised to keep their windows closed and to protect their lungs if they have respiratory problems such as asthma. Visibility for motorists should not be affected, but residents should exercise extra caution when driving on Monday.
At this time residents are asked to stop calling the forest fire protection line (SOPFEU) unless there is a dire emergency as officials know about the fires and smoke already and the high volume of calls is jamming up the lines.
According to SOPFEU, 83,000 hectares have been affected by the fires so far.
A smog warning has been issued for the following areas:
Abitibi, Témiscamingue, Gatineau, Upper Gatineau - Lièvre - Papineau, Metro Montréal - Laval, Vaudreuil - Soulanges - Huntingdon, Richelieu Valley - Saint-Hyacinthe, Lachute - Saint-Jérôme, Lanaudière, Laurentians, Mauricie, Drummondville - Bois-Francs, Eastern Townships, Mont-Laurier.
The smoke is so dense in some areas that it has even reached upstate New York as this video below shows:
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Amy Judd
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 09:14 on May 31st, 2010
The smoke from the Quebec forest fires has reached Southern New Hampshire. We live at the top of Chestnut Hill In New Boston, NH. As we returned home at 9 PM on Sunday night, we could smell the smoke. On Monday morning, visibility was about 300 meters, and the smoke was so bad that it stung our eyes.
at 11:19 on May 31st, 2010
it was here in Claremont, too. Smelled like campfire that got wet, lol.
at 10:07 on May 31st, 2010
I'm in Cornwall, Ontario. The smoke and the smell of the air spread all the way over here. It stings my eyes. The fires are in the west end of Quebec, and there's a smog/smoke warning all the way over here in Cornwall. It's awful. Can you believe it? FIFTY-TWO FOREST FIRES ARE IN QUEBEC AND THEY'RE OUT OF CONTROL!
at 10:31 on May 31st, 2010
I live in Upstate New York in St. Lawrence County where I can see the smog and smell it.
at 11:07 on May 31st, 2010
We had haze and smoke smell pretty bad today...Here in NH, Claremont. Winds are moving it some now.
at 12:11 on May 31st, 2010
The smoke has reached Dover NH.
at 13:25 on May 31st, 2010
Smoke reached Ballston Spa, NY before starting to disapate.
at 16:00 on May 31st, 2010
I live on Cape Cod in MA. the odor woke me this morning. I thought something in my house was burning. The haze was pretty thick. I can't imagine how it is up there. I hope it rains soon. God Bless..
at 16:21 on May 31st, 2010
My family and I had gone camping for the weekend in Hinsdale, NH, on the border of Mass. We're in the mountains and we could smell the smoke as soon as we woke up this morning. As soon as we got home to Somersworth, NH and it was so bad that we couldn't see past 200 ft in the car. It's that bad.
at 16:26 on May 31st, 2010
I live in Lewiston Me. and the smoke here just got thicker as the afternoon went on. It was not that noticable earlier today but has gotten much thicker recently. I wish all those firefighters who are battling this blaze much luck and I hope the weather turns soon!