Saint Lazare is reminding residents that due to the current very high fire risk it is prohibited to make a fire in an open pit unless it has a screen.

The issue of a possible forest fire happening in the city's wooded areas was addressed by District Councillor Marc Emond in response to a question submitted by Constantinos Markakis during question period at the monthly council meeting on June 13.

"Saint-Lazare is a municipality that has been developed in a forest. There are still huge piles of dried out branches from the ice storm everywhere, overgrown and dead trees and very flammable resinous coniferous trees everywhere on the territory," Markakis wrote.

"With climate change and forest fires raging in Quebec and Canada, what is Saint Lazare council doing specifically to protect residents from these dangers that impose an imminent risk in our city?" he asked.

Emond said the city has just about finished clearing up the branches and debris that littered properties and streets from the ice storm in late April.

"It's nine weeks and counting. We're very confident it's going to be finished by the deadline," he said.

Very high fire risk 

Emond said the fire department and its public security services are aware of the fire risk and are doing everything they can to make sure people  respect the rules.

"We encourage citizens to be more responsible and follow the guidelines. Someone could throw a cigarette butt and we're kind of paranoid about that because of what's going on up north," said Emond.

"We’ve done a really good job preserving our water as much as possible. At least if there's a fire we would have the resource to battle it," he added.

Apparent property insurance refusal

Markakis also noted that insurance companies have apparently been refusing to provide property insurance for homes with a lot of surrounding trees because of the possible fire risk.

"What is council doing to do to protect lives and property when there are such stringent and biased tree cutting policies that make it impossible to cut down trees," asked Markakis.

"I've heard of insurance companies being very picky in flood zones. I never heard of an insurance company refusing to insure a home because they had too many trees. That doesn't make any sense to me," Emond replied.

Tree maintenance

Emond recommended property owners trim branches as needed. "If you need to cut down a tree, that's different. You need a permit and the town will send someone who will authorize the tree to be cut if it's sick or dangerous," he said.

Homeowners, however, should contact Hydro-Québec if a tree is within three meters of their servitude. "I wouldn’t touch branches in the Hydro area," said Emond.

He also suggested homeowners who live in the same area near power lines should each call hydro to tell them about the situation. Emond said the more people who call could influence Hydro to respond quicker than if it was just the city who called. 

"If 10 residents on the same street called, you would get more action than if the town called. Sometimes it’s about the number of people and not about who is calling," said Emond.

He also suggested homeowners who live in the same area near power lines should each call hydro to tell them about the situation. Emond said the more people who call could influence Hydro to respond quicker than if it was just the city who called.

For more information about the city's fire regulations visit https://ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca/en/services-to-residents/fire-safety.