With few resources, remote Quebec towns worry about fire safety

Kegaska, one of severalisolated communities scattered about Quebec's Lower North Shore, doesn't have a fire department. It doesn't even havefire hydrants.

When a fire broke outin a house on Monday, it took the closest fire truck 40 minutes to makethe 50-kilometre drivefromNatashquan.There was little left of the house by the time the firefighters arrived.

Though no one was hurt in Monday's fire, it renewed concerns within the community about its ability to respond to emergencies.

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"We just don't have any good fire equipment here as far as I'm concerned," said Steven Kippen, a residentwho was one of the first people at the scene.

With the help of a fewother locals, Kippendragged water pumps and hosesto the shoreline of theGulf of St.Lawrence.

Their efforts were complicated by the factthe tide was out, but theystillmanaged to contain the fire while the NatashquanFire Department was on its way.

If circumstances had been different, though, there is no telling what damage the fire would have wrought,Kippensaid.

"If it'swintertime, and the bay is frozen over, how are we going to get water?"

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Minimal infrastructures

Kegaska is one of five towns thatmake up the Municipality ofCte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent. Its administrator, Darlene Rowsell-Roberts, saidNatashquan's assistance thatnightwas crucial to preventing further damage.

But the road that connects the two communities,Highway138, ends in Kegaska."I don't knowwhat the outcome would have beenin other communities further up the coast,"Rowsell-Roberts said.

Gros-Mecatina is one of those communities. MayorRandy Jonessaid he's been trying to bring attention to fire safetyfor years.The threat of forest fires makes the community even more vulnerable.

"Idon't know what we'ddo,"Jones said."There's no solutionto evacuate 500 people, many of them seniors."

Jones added that Telusput an end to its pager service in Quebec in 2015. Since there is no cell phone service, the only way to reach emergency personnel is on alandline.

"We're out of sight and out of mind,"said Jones.

The local MNA for the Duplessis riding, Lorraine Richard, was not available for comment.