MONTREAL — Residents of a northern Quebec town that has been under an evacuation order for the past two weeks due to forest fires are expected be allowed to return home on Sunday.

Lebel-sur-Quévillon Mayor Guy Lafrenière announced the news, adding that some essential workers will begin to go back today to ensure services are in place when residents return.

Lafrenière says a more detailed plan for the return home will be announced Saturday.

Forests Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina told reporters in Val-d’Or this morning that the flammability risk for the area had risen overnight.

However, officials say both the town and a nearby pulp mill — which had posed a concern because of chemicals stored there — are well protected by fire breaks and by the arrival of additional firefighters from the United States.

The town of about 2,000 people has been under an evacuation order since June 2.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2023.

The Canadian Press