On Wednesday, July 5 the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Department of Fish and Game commissioners sent 16 wildland firefighters to Quebec, Canada to assist with the country’s more than 70 wildfires.

Of these fires, Société de protection des forêts contre le feu has identified three as “out of control” and 24 as “high priority,” according to Quebec’s Public Safety Department.

Among the two MassWildlife firefighters heading to Quebec is East Wareham’s Connor Fleming.

The remaining firefighters serve the Department of Conservation and Recreation. 

An 11-member crew of conservation firefighters who deployed early this year on Thursday, June 15 have since returned on Friday, June 30 after their work strengthening and containing lines around four fires in order to prevent growth. 

These 16 wildland firefighters will pick off where the previous team left off and will additionally build fire breaks and protect surrounding structures.

Another five firefighters from Connecticut and Vermont will join as well.

According to Quebec’s Public Safety Department, the firefighter interventions in combination with recent weather has reduced the intensity of the wildfires and certain areas.

This has allowed some evacuees to return to their homes and some restrictions on entering Quebec’s forests have been lifted. In addition, this work has helped open more of the country’s roads.

Air quality has also improved in some locations, but in the Jamésie and Ungava Bay sectors conditions remain poor.