By: Phineas Zhang

In early July, there were strong wildfires in northern Quebec because of dry conditions. It affected almost everyone in northern Quebec, but mostly residents in cabins and tourists.

Usually when wildfires start, it is because of a lightning strike or a human-made spark. When the spark burns a tree, it could spread to other trees. It is the same for a lightning strike. The big thing is the weather conditions. If there is a lot of wind, it will eventually turn into a big fire. Rain will make the fire spread slower. Quebec had dry conditions when the wildfire struck, and there was probably a lot of wind as well. The wildfires burned spruce forests, destroying cabins and tourist camps. In the article, it also says that “It also cut off transportation to isolated Indigenous communities over the region’s lone paved road, a 370-mile stretch of highway with little or no cell reception.” There is no way to transport goods or travel to indigenous communities. The wildfires have burned 47,000 square miles of forest and have moved 25,000 Indigenous residents.

In the article, Brent McDonald says “Before evacuation orders were issued, residents who tried to leave along the Billy Diamond Highway, as the road is known, encountered flames and smoke.” The wildfire had to be pretty big because there was fire and smoke, and that the road was blocked so they couldn’t escape. “I honestly wasn’t sure we’d make it out,” said Joshua Iserhoff.

they were not going to make it out, but eventually they did find another way out along with other residents.

The reason the wildfires are so important is because the Indigenous residents live off of food from the forest, and the fire has burned the forest. The Indigenous residents now have no food. In the article, it says “their homes are in remote areas that are not a firefighting priority since they are sparsely populated and have few buildings.” If the fire reaches them, they will not be able to stop it, and many residents will die.

In conclusion, the wildfires of Canada have affected many people, but mostly the Indigenous residents. They will have no food and no shelter, and many lives lost. I think to protect the indigenous people there should be firefighters to spray the fire. There should also people to give them food after a wildfire like this one because all their food is gone. I think this will help the indigenous people.