The PMG - Sopfeu

Prevention and
Monitoring Guide:
Practical checklist and tools to help SOPFEU members fulfil
their responsibilities regarding forest fire protection
Prevention
 Prevention approach
 Forest inspections
 Preventive measures
Detection, suppression and other
activities
The PMG
2015
FOREST WORKERS
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Table of contents
Prevention and monitoring guide (pmg) .........................................................................................................................3
Appendix 1 .....................................................................................................................................................................4
Ban on smoking in forest – It’s the law! .................................................................................................................5
You can prevent forest fires! .................................................................................................................................6
A reminder about fire extinguishers .......................................................................................................................7
Beware of previously burned areas… ...................................................................................................................8
Appendix 2 .....................................................................................................................................................................9
Be aware of the fire danger .................................................................................................................................10
Appendix 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................11
With regard to forest inspections ..............................................................................................................................12
To systematically monitor your operations .................................................................................................................13
Appendix 4 ...................................................................................................................................................................14
Checklist for the forest inspection audit form ...............................................................................................................16
Minimum standards ......................................................................................................................................................17
Appendix 5 ...................................................................................................................................................................18
With regard to preventive measures .........................................................................................................................19
Appendix 6 ...................................................................................................................................................................21
Appendix 7 ...................................................................................................................................................................24
Checklist for silvicultural companies and their employees ..................................................................................25
Appendix 8 ...................................................................................................................................................................26
Appendix 9 ...................................................................................................................................................................28
With regard to detecting and fighting forestfires ..................................................................................................29
Appendix 10 .................................................................................................................................................................30
Billing...................................................................................................................................................................31
FOREST WORKERS
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PREVENTION AND
MONITORING GUIDE (PMG)
PREVENTION APPROACH:
 Distribution of messages :
 Information sheets for forestry workers (Appendix 1);
 Awareness kit for workers: Illustrated information sheets on minimum standards. These sheets may be
downloaded from www.sopfeu.qc.ca;
 Encourage your workers to be aware of the fire danger (Appendix 2).
 Preventive protection: Website with tips to lower forest fire risks – Le PareFeu at: www.mffp.gouv.qc.ca/parefeu
(in French).
FOREST INSPECTIONS:
 Responsibilities of SOPFEU members with regard to forest inspections (Appendix 3);
 Concrete actions to systematically monitor your operations;
 (Appendix 3);
 Tools for conducting forest inspections (Appendix 4):
 Audit form;
 Checklist for audit form/Minimum standards.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
 Responsibilities of SOPFEU members with regard to preventive measures (Appendix 5);
 Recommendation to stop or restrict forestry operations or management activities:
 Audit form for preventive measures – Manual reforestation during stopped forestry operations (Appendix 6);
 Checklist for silvicultural companies and their employees: Prevention measures during reforestation work
(Appendix 7).
 Prohibition on entering and travelling in forests:
 The role of SOPFEU members during the prohibition on entering and travelling in forests (Appendix 8).
DETECTION, SUPPRESSION AND OTHERS:
 The role of SOPFEU members with regard to detecting and fighting forest fires (Appendix 9);
 A helping hand to forestry companies - Billing (Appendix 10);
 The SOPFEU “calendar” to help operational members plan their activities (Appendix 11).
Appendix 1
To prevent forest fires, SOPFEU invites its members to distribute information sheets designed for forest workers.
These sheets may be posted on bulletin boards, for example, or included in mailings.
 No smoking in forests – It’s the law!
 You can prevent fires!
 A reminder about fire extinguishers
 Beware of previously burned areas...
FOREST WORKERS
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Ban on smoking in forest – It’s the law!
Every year in Quebec, 10 fires on average are caused by smokers’ articles during logging or
industrial activities. Close to 500 hectares of forest go up in smoke because of each one of
these fires, resulting in over 3,3 M$ in fire extinguishing costs.
REMEMBER
SUSTAINABLE FOREST DEVELOPMENT ACT
« No person may smoke in or near a forest from 1 April to 15 November while
working or travelling, except in a building or a closed vehicle. »
RULES TO BE OBSERVED
To prevent fires caused by smoking bad practices in the forest, here are the rules to follow:
1. Smoking is prohibited while working and moving. To do this, take a break in a cleared area, away from
potential fuels (sawdust, dry organic matter...) and accelerators products (fuel, oil, gas...);
2. Avoid exposure to high winds;
3. Before resuming your work, turn off your butt well by wetting, crushing against a rock or in the sand;
4. Dispose your butts in a safe and respectful environment.
FOREST WORKERS
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You can prevent forest fires!
Every year in Quebec, 30 forest fires are caused by logging
operations. These fires destroy on average close to 2500
hectares and sometimes... your own equipment!
Today, have you done everything possible to prevent a fire from
starting in your work area?

Is your power machinery provided
with a suitable fire extinguisher?

Do your tree planting crews have the necessary fire extinguishing material?

Do you conduct inspections to ensure that forest fire prevention standards are applied?

When non-conformities are detected during an inspection, are they corrected in the
timeliest manner possible?

For prevention standards and your role in the prevention of forest
fires, go to www.sopfeu.qc.ca under SOPFEU / Publications / Forestry
companies to obtain the document "Standards minimum... "
FORESTRY WORKERS
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A reminder about fire extinguishers
If fires are detected when small, they usually cause
less damage since they are easier to control. To
intervene effectively, SOPFEU recommends
specific standards for fire extinguishing material.
Here, therefore, is a reminder of these standards.
FIRE EXTINGUISHING MATERIALS: the standards1
Fires extinguishers must be:
 Appropriate for the equipment;
 In good working order;
 Visible;
 Accessible at all times.

Mobile equipment
1 kg
2 kg
4 kg
9 kg
2 X 9 kg
Foreman’s vehicle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
Skidder, forwarder, grader, vehicle for hauling (wood, gravel or tree seedlings)
Equipment used for bucking, loading or unloading wood or gravel, bulldozer, mechanical
shovel.
Fellers, delimbers and other multi-function machines
Service truck used in the forest for machinery maintenance
Stationary equipment (including buckers and generators):
2 kg
4 kg
Engine power under 75 kW
Engine power over 75 kW
Petroleum products and equipments
type of petroleum equipment
Capacity
Fuel distribution point (pump) and service truck At least 2 fire extinguishers with an effective total rating of at least
at a forest camp site.
40 BC, one of which must be less than 10 metres away
(measured horizontally) from distribution points.
Fuel tanker truck or vehicle Transporting fuel
A fire extinguisher with an effective rating of at least 20 BC
for forestry machinery.
installed near the tanker or mobile tank and a fire extinguisher
with an effective rating of at least 5 BC, installed and clearly
visible in the truck cab or affixed outside the cab.
Brush cutters and chain saws
It is necessary to have a 225-ml container of ABC dry chemical powder next to the fuel tank and less than 30 metres
away from worker or on the worker’s belt.
Reforestation work (per group of 10 persons or less):
There must be a full back-pack pump and two shovels or a 2-kg ABC fire extinguisher and two shovels.
1
From Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management activities.
FORESTRY WORKERS
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Beware of previously burned areas…
A few years ago, a major fire destroyed several thousands of hectares in the
region. Despite its harmless appearance, this site can burn once again. The
Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) would therefore like to
make forest workers aware of this particular problem.
WINDIER, WARMER, DRIER...
Due to the absence of forest cover, it is normally windier in a large burned area
than in a green forest. Temperatures are warmer since the blackened surface
absorbs more of the sun’s heat. Deprived of forest cover and living organic matter to retain moisture, the partially
consumed moss, roots and branches are extremely flammable. In concrete terms, the fire danger is usually at a
higher level. For example, if the fire danger is moderate in a green forest, it would be high in the burned area.
... HARDER TO ATTACK!
Fires that break out in a burned area spread faster than those in other areas due to stronger winds and drier humus.
This causes thick smoke that complicates the work of air tanker pilots and slows down the work of firefighters who
must get more water onto the fire. In addition to being hard to attack, a fire that starts in a burned area can spread to
the green forest and destroy forest management investments.
WHAT TO DO IN OR NEAR BURNED AREAS?
Be extra careful!
 Clean machinery more often;
 Inspect machinery more often;.
 Patrol area after machinery has been used and as soon as the fire danger given by
SOPFEU for this area reaches MODERATE.
FIRE DANGER
Appendix 2
The fire danger is a relative index of how easy it is to ignite forest fuels and how difficult a fire may be to control.
Finding out what the fire danger is and adapting one’s behaviour accordingly is therefore a winning prevention
strategy. Remember, the more your workers know about the risks of fire, the more they will take the necessary
precautions.
ENCOURAGE YOUR WORKETS TO
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Be aware of the fire danger
WHERE TO GET IT?
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR
MOBILE APPLICATION!
HOW WILL I INFORM MY WORKERS?
The Société de protection des
forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU)
collaborates
with
various
organizations such as forestry
companies and outdoor recreation
establishments (ZECs, outfitters,
wildlife preserves) by supplying
them with a fire danger sign. The
purpose of this tool is show people
just how flammable the forest is
before they venture into it.
Having a fire danger sign comes with certain obligations, namely the daily adjustment of the arrow, so the fire danger
presented is credible information.
To find out more, please contact the information officer at the main base that serves your area.
Appendix 3
SOPFEU members have major responsibilities when it comes to forest inspections. The first sheet of this appendix
provides an overview of these responsibilities. Readers who would like to know what SOPFEU does and what the
Forest Inspections process involves, are invited to go to www.sopfeu.qc.ca under Publications/ Forestry Companies
to consult the document called Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management activities.
To systematically monitor the minimum standards in effect, SOPFEU also proposes, on the second sheet, a few
concrete actions.
RESPONSEBILITIES OF SOPFEU MEMBERS
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With regard to forest inspections
2
A member company that carries out or mandates someone to carry out forestry operations (timber
supply and forest management activities) must notify SOPFEU (by completing the appropriate form)
by April 30 of every year of its intention to carry out, or not, forestry operations in the months of May,
June, July and August.
The member company that declares forestry operations for this period must:



Ensure that forest fire prevention standards are respected by conducting monthly inspections and
correcting any non-conformities, within the prescribed time;
Inform SOPFEU with an official declaration to this effect, signed in April of each year by a
representative of the member, confirming that its forestry operations are systematically and
rigorously monitored and respect the minimum standards in effect;
Notify SOPFEU, when a forest fire occurs or threatens the forest in its territory. If this fire is
caused by the member’s activities, it should assess the situation, in conjunction with SOPFEU. If
need be, a plan of action to prevent the same type of events from reoccurring will be produced.
For the complete text, please consult the document “Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management
activities,” page 7. This document is available in PDF format at www.sopfeu.qc.ca
2
CONCRETE ACTIONS
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To systematically monitor your operations
To systematically monitor your operations, SOPFEU suggests that you:
 Inform your workers about prevention standards every year.
“Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management
activities” Available in PDF format at:
http://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/sopfeu/publications/forest-company-members
 Make sure that prevention standards are respected at worksites:
 By ensuring supervisors make daily visual inspections and, if need be,
take immediate corrective action;
 By providing training to designated supervisors, so they conduct proper forest
inspections;
 By carrying out annual internal audits with forest supervisors who conduct the formal
inspections;
 By conducting formal monthly inspections, using an official form (as prescribed in the
Minimum standards);
 By promptly taking the necessary action to correct any non- conformities detected
during formal inspections (as prescribed in the Minimum standards).
Appendix 4
This section gives you tools to help conduct forest inspection audits:

Forest inspection audit form – Forest fire prevention;

Checklist for the forest inspection audit form/Minimum standards.
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FOREST INSPECTION AUDIT FORM - Forest fire prevention
Company:
Date of audit:
Motorized machine
Contact with employee
Determine best time
Draw the operator’s attention
Muffler
Well attached
Good condition
General inspection
Cleanliness / oil / other
Electrical wires (not exposed)
Circuit breaker
Portable chemical extinguisher
Accessibility
Attachment means
Quantity of powder
Right type of powder
Hermetically sealed container
ULC or CSA approved
Dial in order
Container in goof condition
Maintenance sheet
Semi-herm. sealed container
Safety
Press on
Trigger of hose
Capsule in order
Quality / quantity of powder
Seal in order
Rescrew by hand
Complete the form
Give a copy to the operator
C = Conform
N/C = Non-conform
Please send a copy of this form to:
Contractor:
Auditeur:
C
N/C
Supervisor audited
Information
Received on
Conducting inspections
Chainsaws / Brushcutters
Contact with employee
Determine best time
Draw the operator’s attention
Muffler
Good condition
Spark arrestor in actin
Fuel tank
Approved container
Cap
Air intake
Leaks
Pour spout
224 ml extinguisher
Accessibility
Type of powder
Container in order
Quality / right quantity
Smoking
Complete the form
Give a copy to the operator
Is the inspection form
correctly by the
supervisor
Remarks:
Yes
C
N/C
Service truck
Chemical extinguisher
Location
Attachment means
Quantity of powder
ABC type powder
Hermetically sealed container
ULC or CSA
Dial in order
Container in good condition
Maintenance sheet
Semi-herm. sealed container
Safety
Press on
Trigger of hose
Capsule in order
Quality / quantity of powder
Seal in order
Complete the form
Give a copy to the operator
Completed
No
Specify
C
N/C
No

Yes

By company
By SOPFEU
Petroleum prod. and equip.
Chemical extinguisher
Location
Attachment means
Number of extinguishers
Effective rating (BC)
Hermetically sealed container
ULC or CSA
Dial in order
Container in good condition
Maintenance sheet
Semi-herm. sealed container
Safety
Press on
Trigger of hose
Capsule in order
Quality / quantity of powder
Seal in order
Complete the form
Give a copy to the operator
Is the supervisor taking the
appropriate action to correct the
non-conformities?
Means
To yes
No
Specify
C
N/C
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Checklist for the forest inspection
audit form
A few tips to help you complete the form correctly
Section: Contact with the employee

This item is key in occupational health and safety, you must absolutely take it into account.
Section: Hermetically sealed container

Maintenance sheet: the supervisor must check to see if the sheet is present and if it was completed within
the previous 12 months by a specialized company.
Section: Semi-hermetically sealed container

Safety (press down on trigger of hose): This operation is necessary to release the pressure from the
container, if need be, and therefore prevent any risk of injury.
What if a non-conformity is detected during the audit?
1. Write any non-conformity on the audit form, even if immediate action would correct it. In addition, the type of
corrective action must be specified on the form;
2. Correct if possible any non-conformities right away, for example, provide specific information on how to conduct
an inspection or what elements should not be forgotten;
3. If it is not possible to correct a non-conformity on-site and this creates a fire hazard, the machine or activity must
be stopped until the situation is corrected, for example:
 The exhaust system is defective;
 Engine is losing hydraulic oil;
 Fire extinguisher is defective or missing;
 The machine is too dirty.
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Minimum standards3
1.1.1. Mobile equipment
The quantity of powder of portable extinguishers for each machine must be as follows:
QUANTITY TYPE OF VEHICLE
1 kg
Supervisor’s vehicle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
2 kg
Skidder, forwarder, grader, vehicle for hauling (wood, gravel or tree seedlings).
4 kg
Equipment used for bucking, loading or unloading wood or gravel, bulldozer, mechanical shovel.
9 kg
Fellers, delimbers and other multi-function machines.
2 x 9 kg Service truck used in the forest for machinery maintenance.
1.1.2. Stationary equipment (including buckers and generators)
QUANTITY ENGINE POWER
2 kg
Under 75 kW.
4 kg
Over 75 kW.
1.1.3. Petroleum products and equipment
TYPE OF PETROLEUM EQUIPMENT
Fuel distribution point (pump) and service
truck at a forest camp site.
Fuel tanker truck or vehicle transporting fuel
for forestry machinery.
3
RATING
At least 2 fire extinguishers with an effective total rating
of at least 20 BC, one of which must be less than 10
metres away (measured horizontally) from distribution
points.
One or two fire extinguishers with an effective total
rating of at least 40 BC installed near the tanker or
mobile tank and a fire extinguisher with an effective
rating of at least 5 BC, installed and clearly visible in the
truck cab or affixed outside the cab.
From “Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management activities”
Appendix 5
When the fire danger reaches a critical level, preventive measures may be issued by SOPFEU or the Ministère des
Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP). SOPFEU members must inform their workers of these measures and also
ensure the necessary follow-up to see that these measures are respected at work sites. This appendix proposes a
summary of actions that members should take when preventive measures are in effect.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOPFEU MEMBERS
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With regard to preventive measures
When the fire danger reaches a critical level, preventive measures may be
issued. These measures are:
 A ban on open fires (issued by the MFFP);
 A recommendation to suspend or stop forestry operations (issued by SOPFEU);
 A prohibition on entering and travelling in forests (issued by the MFFP).
What to do when preventive measures are in effect ?


Ensure workers are informed of these measures;
Ensure workers respect these measures. Your supervisors must therefore do a special patrol of
operational areas (worksites).
In addition, if your company AUTHORIZES THE CONTINUATION OF MANUAL REFORESTATION WORK UNDER
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU), your supervisors must:
 Do special ground patrols of operational areas during the period when forestry operations are suspended or
stopped;
 Complete a daily report (notice of inspection during preventive measures “Minimum standards governing
timber supply and forest management activities,” p. 19), during the period when forestry operations are
suspended or stopped4.
 Every year, distribute the information on the “Checklist for silvicultural companies and their employees –
Preventive measures during reforestation work,” and have employees concerned sign it, and keep a copy in
your files.
Don’t forget! If your company authorizes the continuation of manual reforestation work under a MOU, a designated
person must conduct audits with forestry workers and supervisors, to ensure they know and apply the terms and
conditions of the MOU. These audits may take place at any time during the fire season, whether the preventive
measures are in effect or not.
For an example of a MOU, please consult the document “Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management
activities,” Appendix 4, available in PDF format at: http://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/sopfeu/publications/forest-company-members
4
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NOTICE OF INSPECTION DURING PREVENTIVE MEASURES
FOR REFORESTATION WORK WITH MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
(Proposed form)
Contractor:
Date:
Client:
Region:
Sector:
Road no.:
Presence of smoke 
Absence of smoke 
N/A 
Reforestation site:
Checked by:
Comments:
Time:
Appendix 6
If authorized by the client (member company), manual reforestation work carried out under a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) approved by SOPFEU5, may continue when preventive measures are in effect for forestry
operations. The SOPFEU member has major responsibilities when it comes to applying the MOU. As a result, it is up
to the member to ensure that employees of the silvicultural companies involved know and apply the MOU’s terms
and conditions.
The form in this appendix contains the main elements that need to be checked by the member company. Depending
on whether it is the worker or the supervisor who is audited, the questions will be different. The questions to ask each
person are specified on the form.
For an example of an MOU, please see the document Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management
activities, Appendix 4, available in PDF format at: http://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/sopfeu/publications/forest-company-members
5
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AUDIT FORM FOR PREVENTIVE MEASURES
MANUAL REFORESTATION DURING STOPPED FORESTRY OPERATIONS
If authorized by the client (member company), manual reforestation work, carried out under a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) approved by SOPFEU, may continue when preventive measures during forestry operations
are in effect. The SOPFEU member company has an active role to play with regard to applying the MOU. As a
result, it is responsible for ensuring that the concerned silvicultural company employees know and apply the MOU’s
terms and conditions. This form presents the main elements that need to be checked by the member company.
Company:
Contractor:
Auditor:
Date of audit:
Name of audited
tree planter:
Name of audited
supervisor:
Ask questions 1 to 6
Ask questions 1,2,3,4 and 7
1 Did you get information regarding the minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management
activities?
No 
Yes 
If so, who gave it to you?
My supervisor 
Another worker 
Name:
If so, how did you get it?
At an information session 
In a written document

Other:
If so, when did you get it?
When I started work
Other:

2 Did you get information regarding minimum standards that must be respected by workers who plant trees during
stopped forestry operations?
No 
Yes 
If so, who gave it to you?
My supervisor 
Another worker 
Name:
If so, how did you get it?
At an information session 
In a written document

Other:
If so, when did you get it?
When I started work
Other:

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Questions 3 to 7 - Ask the question without giving a choice of answers
3
What measures must be taken to be able to continue reforestation work when SOPFEU suggests stopping
forestry operations?
The right answers are:
 No mechanized equipment for transporting tree seedlings is allowed to travel on the organic soil layer;
 Special ground patrols must be performed;
 A report must be completed (notice of inspection during preventive measures).
Comments:
4
What tools do you have available to intervene on a fire start? What equipment is necessary per group of 10
workers:
The right answers are:
One back-pack pump full of water or a 2-kg ABC fire extinguisher;
Two shovels.
Comments:


5
Can you show me where they are?
The right answers are:
 Near the workers;
 In the supervisor’s vehicle.
Comments:
6
What rules apply regarding smoking in the forest?
The right answers are:
 It is forbidden to smoke while working;
 It is forbidden to smoke while travelling, unless you are in a closed vehicle.
Comments:
7
To meet standards, what equipment should be found on an all-terrain-vehicle (ATV)?
The right answer is:
A 1kg fire extinguisher.

Comments:
Appendix 7
Following a pilot project carried out in 2006 and 2007, SOPFEU’s board of directors accepted to remove manual
reforestation work from activities targeted during stopped forestry operations, provided the client agrees and the
silvicultural company that carries out this work accepts to respect specific terms and conditions, by signing a
memorandum of understanding (MOU)6. However, silvicultural companies that do not sign such a MOU must
suspend their activities when forestry operations are stopped.
To make it easier to hire silvicultural companies and have their cooperation when it comes to forest fire prevention,
the following associations: AETSQ, FQŒ and RÉSAM, have MOUs validated by SOPFEU. A silvicultural company
may therefore ask its association to be part of one.
One of the terms and conditions that needs to be respected for reforestation work to continue during stopped forestry
operations is that the silvicultural company must ensure its workers know and respect SOPFEU’s minimum
prevention standards7. Appendix 7 proposes a checklist for this purpose. Every year, it must be signed by silvicultural
workers, to acknowledge that they have received the information. The silvicultural company must keep a copy of this
acknowledgment.
Example available at www.sopfeu.qc.ca.
SOPFEU’s minimum prevention standards are outlined in Minimum standards governing timber supply and forest management
activities, available at: http://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/sopfeu/publications/forest-company-members
6
7
PREVENTIVE MEASURES DURING REFORESTATION WORK
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Checklist for silvicultural companies and their employees

It is forbidden to smoke while working or travelling, except in a closed vehicle.

It is forbidden to smoke or use an open flame within 15 metres of a fuel storage or handling point.

It is forbidden to make a campfire to cook or to repel mosquitoes.

At reforestation sites, it is necessary to have the following equipment per group of 10 persons or less:
1 full back-pack pump
 2 shovels

OU
1 2-kg ABC fire extinguisher
 2 shovels

This equipment must be located near the seedling distribution centres or a group of workers.

All-terrain-vehicles (ATVs) and the vehicle used by the supervisor must be equipped with a portable 1-kg ABC
dry chemical fire extinguisher that is CSA or ULC approved.

During preventive measures for forestry operations, supervisors must ensure a special patrol of worksites.

During preventive measures, no mechanized equipment for transporting seedlings is permitted to travel on the
organic soil layer.
I, the undersigned, acknowledge having received and read the information on preventive measures during
reforestation work.
Name of
employee
Signature
Date
Silvicultural
company
The silvicultural company manager must keep this signed section in the company files.
Appendix 8
When the situation warrants it, the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife may prohibit entering and travelling in
forests. Since the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) is the body responsible for applying
this measure, its officials can ask for the collaboration of forest companies. As for SOPFEU, it can call upon its
members for fire detection and logistics. Appendix 8 summarizes the role of members when entering and travelling in
forests is prohibited.
THE ROLE OF SOPFEU MEMBERS
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During prohibition on entering and travelling in the forest
SUPPORT FOR BLOCKING FOREST ROADS
The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la faune (MRNF regional office) is responsible for
applying the measure and blocking forest roads (pre-identified access points). The Ministère des
Transports du Québec (MTQ) usually helps the MRNF by supplying the signs and barriers required for
blocking these roads.
As the persons responsible for applying this measure, MRNF officials can ask for the collaboration of
forest companies or other partners of the Organisation régionale de la sécurité civile (regional civil
protection agency), such as wildlife conservation officers.
COLLABORATION FOR FIRE DETECTION, FIGHTING
AND LOGISTICS
As for SOPFEU, it can call upon its members to:
 Organize patrols for detecting fires in their sector;
 Have first response teams on standby. In the MRNF standards and guidelines regarding forest fire
protection, it states “It may be useful in such circumstances that forest workers remain available at
their camp, to help fight forest fires if requested to do so by SOPFEU. They may be remunerated by
SOPFEU according to a rate agreed upon with them or their employer.” (free translation of section
8.1.3);
 Keep camps open to support SOPFEU operations in terms of logistics (lodging, meals, sanitary
facilities, etc.).
Appendix 9
Every year, in Quebec, 50 forest fires are caused by forestry operations. It is therefore understandable that SOPFEU
members have key prevention-related responsibilities.
Unfortunately, a forest company’s logging areas may also burn, due to one or several fires that are not caused by its
activities. In such a case, the support provided by this company to SOPFEU to detect and fight fires will contribute to
limiting the damage. The following sheet summarizes the role of SOPFEU members.
THE ROLE OF SOPFEU MEMBERS
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With regard to detecting and fighting forestfires
 Promptly report any fire start to SOPFEU, even if the fire is already out at the time of
discovery.
 Carry out the initial fire attack, if this can be done safely.
 If a fire is fought in your sector, support the suppression work of SOPFEU by :
 Assisting with logistics;
 Informing it of priority values-at-risk;
 Sending SOPFEU the bill, with detailed information, within 30 days.
 Once the fire is extinguished, work with SOPFEU to analyze the fire when caused by forestry operations
under your responsibility (forest inspection process).
Appendix 10
Forest fires are fought in the field. However, we cannot insist enough on the need to produce a detailed and
rigorously checked bill when required (within 30 days).
The following sheet provides information on eligible suppression costs and various terms and conditions
regarding billing.
A HELPING HAND TO FORESTRY COMPANIES
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Please send to your billing service
Billing
When forestry companies help fight forest fires, the eligible suppression costs and terms and conditions
are as follows:
Eligible costs



Salaries and employee benefits;
SOPFEU reimburses the actual hourly rate and employee benefits for all personnel who work
directly on fires, including machine operators;
The hourly rate of a contract employee is established by taking into account any equipment likely to
be paid separately.
Equipment
 Rented equipment is billed at the actual rate paid by the member, but cannot be higher than the
rates listed by the Quebec government for heavy machinery rental.
Other costs
 Lodging will be reimbursed at actual cost, when workers are away from their usual accommodations.
Administration fees
 Reasonable administration fees may be accepted for bill preparation.
Terms and conditions



Within a maximum period of 30 days;
The forestry company must send the bill within a maximum period of 30 days;
The bill must provide detailed information, per person or per piece of equipment, on the hours,
kilometres, units, dates, rates and description of equipment, if any.
Transaction number
 SOPFEU will provide a transaction number for billing purposes.