Frequently asked questions

The SOPFEU has many tools at its disposal to achieve its prevention objective, which is to constantly diminish the 10 year mobile average regarding human-caused fires. Click here to see what tools are used to achieve this.

Yes, without a doubt. Statistics of the last decades prove it; the number of forest fires due to human activities has dropped by 40 % since 1990. These encouraging results have prompted the SOPFEU to continue its efforts to educate forest enthusiasts by conducting awareness campaigns. Click here to see the progress observed in the last few years.

You have seen or heard in the media that a ban on open fires in or near forested areas has come into effect and you want to know what it means? Well, it is a preventive measure decreed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife. It is used when the fire danger reaches a critical level and aims to prevent new fire starts. Click here to learn more.

To ensure that the campfire you've lit in or near forested areas is safe, follow these simples rules. And don't forget, when a ban of open fires in or near forested areas is in use, only fires burning in suitable facilities covered with a fireguard are permitted.

When weather and forest conditions prompt it, the SOPFEU together with the authorities of the Conseils régionaux de protection des forêts (CRPF) and the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune may suggest to its members that forestry operations and sylvicultural work be suspended. This measure aim to avoid the spread of new fires that may occur during those operations. However, some activities remain permitted.

Suspended activities : All activities carried out on the organic layer of soil using machinery or motorized equipment (felling, clearing, skidding, hauling, bucking, delimbing, road building, welding, use of ATV, etc.) and all reforestation work, whether manual or mechanized.

Permitted activities :  Activities carried out directly on the mineral soil (truck hauling, levelling of roads, spreading of gravel, maintenance of equipment, etc.), activities carried out on the organic layer of soil that do not require machinery or motorized equipment (inventory, tree marking, scaling, etc.) and manual reforestation work carried out according to a memorandum of understanding approved by the SOPFEU, if permitted by the client.

More than 25 % of Quebec’s wildfires are found each year by one of the thirty-two detection planes that patrol the skies. The fires they find are mainly located in distant and sparsely populated areas. It is the public that report nearly 75 % of all forest fires, particularly those in proximity to towns or infrastructures in the forest. It can be said that the public’s contribution is more than essential!

In the limited protection zone, where fires are not fought, special protection plans may be put into effect by diverse organizations. For example, in the James Bay area the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, the Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Hydro-Québec have created a partnership in order to ensure the safety and protection of the populations and infrastructures. The SOPFEU then intervenes in this area when the special protection plan dictates it.

An hectare is a unit of measurement used for evaluating how much forest was burned by a wildfire. One hectare measures 100 metres by 100 metres. To picture what this represents, remember this little trick : one hectare is roughly the size of two football fields. If a fire destroys six hectares, this means twelve football fields have gone up in smoke.

A forest fire can be declared newly reported, being held, under control, out or even out of control. These terms are related to different stages of control and should be clearly defined for the benefit of everyone. Click here to learn the difference.

Human activities cause 67 % of forest fires, while lightning lights the remaining 33 %. The fires caused by human activities are divided among six main categories : recreation (i.e. hikers', hunters' or fishermen's campfires and cigarettes), residents (i.e. spring burning), arsonists, forestry operations (i.e. heavy machinery and mechanical tools), industrial operations (i.e. clearing fires under electrical power lines) and railroads (i.e. sparks created by braking and other hot metal pieces that may detach from the train).

Not to be considered an open fire, a campfire must be entirely covered by a metallic grid (fireguard) with openings no larger than 1 centimetre. Proper installations such as fireplaces or metal containers with fireguards will allow you to enjoy your fire in complete safety.

In a reverse situation, that’s to say when it rains continuously and all is under control in Quebec’s forests, the SOPFEU can then return the favour by lending a helping hand to other provinces.

The SOPFEU has more than 450 employees, 289 of them being seasonal workers and the rest being regular year-round employees. The regular employees are spread out in different fields such as management, human resources, ground and aerial operations, education, information, meteorology, telecommunications and IT. The great majority of the seasonal workers are forest firefighters.

More specifically, the SOPFEU’s corporate members are the government, holders of timber supply and forest management agreements (TSFMAs), forest management contracts (FMCs) and supply guarantees, as well as owners of woodlots of at least 800 hectares in a single block and holders of forest management agreements (FMAs).

The SOPFEU uses many types of aircrafts.

To conduct aerial detection patrols, the Cessna 182RG is the most solicited, but the Cessna 337 and the Cessna 310R are also utilized.

For bird-dogging and the transportation of employees, the aircraft of choice is the Cessna 310.

As for helicopters, 4 "light", 5 "medium" and 2 "heavy" helicopters are used not only to transport fire crews and their equipment to fire sites but also to extinguish fires with the help of a helibucket.

Last but certainly not least are the water bombers. Whether it be the CL215, the CL215T or the CL415, water bombers are the most solicited aircrafts on initial attacks. Contrary to popular belief a swimmer in a lake can not be scooped up by a water bomber! The traps by which the water enters are only the size of a human hand, approximately 10cm by 20cm, and covered by wire mesh.

The fire danger is based on data collected from over 160 weather stations found throughout the province. It is a relative index of how easy it is to ignite forest fuels and how difficult a fire may be to control, considering the fire’s rate of spread and the quantity of fuel available. Click here to learn more about the fire danger.

Even if the SOPFEU can count on 14 water bombers, 32 Cessna single-engine aircrafts, 8 Cessna twin-engine aircrafts and 11 helicopters, none of these belong to the organization. The water bombers belong to the Quebec government and are managed by the Service aérien gouvernemental, while the other aircrafts are under contract with different aviation companies. Likewise, all pilots are hired by these companies. Therefore, you should inquire directly with these service providers to submit an application.

All the information pertaining to the career possibilities in the SOPFEU can be found in the Careers section (in French only).