Smoke from wildfires in Quebec sparks widespread smog warnings, grounding some water bombers
MONTREAL — Smoke from the wildfires burning in northern Quebec has grounded some of the province’s water bombers and is sending widespread smog warnings further south.
A spokesperson for the county’s forest fire prevention agency says 29 fires are out of control.
Nicolas Vigneault says the heavy smoke has reduced visibility, meaning some water bombers and helicopters have been unable to take off.
However, he says heavy rain and some wind are expected in the most affected parts of the province in the coming days, which should help firefighting efforts.
While he says no city is in immediate danger of burning, the fires have driven thousands of Quebecers from their homes.
Environment Canada has issued smog warnings for much of the province, including Montreal and Quebec City, due to poor air quality caused by fine particles in the air.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 26, 2023.
