Reinforcements arriving to fight Quebec fires as premier warns of more evacuation orders

People who had to leave their homes due to fires burning across northern and western regions of Quebec will not be able to return to their communities untilnext week, says Premier Franois Legault.

Legault, speaking at a news conference Wednesday morning in Quebec City, said dry weather and strongwinds are creating dangerous conditions and heavy smoke in areas that have been evacuated so far.

"I want us to be realisticand not have rose-coloured glasses.We won't have rain in the next few days," he said.

In the Abitibi region, people have been forced out of their homes in communities including Lebel-sur-Quvillon, Senneterre, Lac Simon Anishnabe Nation, Barriere Lake, Normtal and Kitcisakik.

Further west and north, evacations have taken place in communities including Manawan, Chibougamau and Ouj-Bougoumou. In Waswanipi and Mistissini, people are preparing to evacuate the area.

A full list of evacuated areas is available on Quebec's website.

To date,11,400 people have had to leave their homes.

Thousands of them have made their way to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area for safety over the last two days.

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"I want to thank people from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean," said Legault. "I was really impressed last night, on social media we saw people offer their homes to those evacuated. There is exceptional solidarity among Quebecers."

Legault also said his government is looking at helping people out with expenses related to evacuations.

The North Shorewas an area of significant concern earlier this week, but the situation is now under control andSept-les residents have been able to go home, said Legault.

An important piece ofHydro-Qubecinfrastructurenear Baie-Comeauis no longer under threat from the fires.

Still, the premier warned, the situation could change quickly andit's possible that new evacuation orders will be issued.

Legault said he "understands it's anxiety-inducing to leave your home, but your safety is more important."

Out-of-province reinforcements

Armed forces and out-of-province firefighters have been on the ground in Quebec to help tame the wildfires, but local fire authorities have saidthey only have the capacity to fight about 40fires at a time for now.

So far, 460,000 hectares of land burned already surpassing the 1991 totalof about 350,000 hectares, said ForestryMinisterMat Blanchette Vzina.

"We have never seen these many hectares [burn]," she said.

There are currently 670 people fighting the fires on the ground, excluding the pilots of waterbombing aircrafts, said Legault.

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Quebec has 11 working aircraftsout of 13, and Yellowknife is lending the province two of its aircraftwhile Nova Scotia sent out four. Reinforcements from New Brunswick and France are on the way, said Legault, with plans to add more from Mexico, Spain, Portugal and the United States. If all goes to plan, 1,200 employees would be on the ground fighting the fires, said Legault.

But, because fires are burning across the country, getting help from other provinces may prove tricky, he said. Newfoundland and Labrador has already taken back two of the aircraft it had lent toQuebec.

As of noonWednesday, 149 fires were blazing in the province, most of them out of control.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Wednesday evening that reinforcements had started to arrive from the U.S., with more on the way.

Air quality improving in Montreal

A smog warning in Montreal was extended until 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. Legault recommends those with asthma and respiratory problems stay inside with the windows closed.

When it comes to getting back to normal air quality, rain helps wash away the pollutants and particles, explained Jean-Philippe Bgin, a meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

While there has been rain in some parts of the province, more is needed. Regardless, air quality is improving in some hard-hit regions, he said.

"Things have already improved in the Montreal area as of last night, the air quality is better, but in the Ottawa region, the air quality is still bad," Bgin said on Wednesday.

With winds shifting to the north and northeast on Thursday, there should be further improvement, he said, even if the winds aren't strong. However, the situation is changing hour by hour and requires constant monitoring, he added.

New fires or extinguished fires can change the forecast, he said.