Mount Echo fire – Updated Wednesday at 4 p.m.
On this third day of fighting the forest fire at the summit of Mont Écho, the SOPFEU team continued to operate efficiently in the field, with the help of a helicopter and in constant liaison with our Public Safety Ddepartment. By mid-day, the fire had gone from "contained" to "under control", which means there is no longer any risk of it spreading! However, it is not yet considered extinguished.
Thanks to fine weather, the SOPFEU helicopter was able to take off early this morning to get a closer look at the situation, then drop water precisely on the fire spots.
Over the course of the day, the helicopter made around forty rotations with a 200-gallon bucket, filling it in a nearby lake and emptying it over the fire, which is located on a very steep mountainside.
Meanwhile, SOPFEU firefighters were hard at work on the mountaintop, clearing a landing zone to allow the helicopter to transport extinguishing equipment (pumps, hoses and other necessary equipment) and to install the water pool, designed to facilitate filling and bring combat manoeuvres closer together.
Operations will resume tomorrow, Thursday, and continue until the fire is completely extinguished.
The trails and the entire area remain strictly closed.
Thank you for your cooperation.