Discover the many facets of forest regeneration after a fire. Under Rising from the ashes, you will learn how the forest comes back to life, what the first plants, trees and insects to appear are and how they contribute to this rebirth of the forest. On the big screen, you can watch how forest fires are detected and fought in Quebec forests. Relive with SOPFEU members all the stages of their fascinating work. You will be in the heat of the action, right in the middle of the biggest forest fires in Quebec. A naturalist library is available for consultation by anyone who wants to learn more about the fascinating world of the forest.

Development in the Gatineau Valley, like in many other areas of Quebec, went hand-in-hand with the harvesting of the forest. You will discover how the loggers and lumberjacks lived and made a living in the days when the horse was king. You will see what the main tools they used were, including the first mechanical saws, which appeared in the early 1940s. Today, the extent of human activity involving the forest argues in favour of much greater protection of this collective resource.

In Quebec, the notion of protecting the forest using legislation is fairly recent. Up to the middle of the 19th century, a good tree was a felled tree or a burned tree. Forest fires cleared land for farming and kept enemies at bay. With time, however, forest fires turned from a valued ally to a challenging adversary. A former fire ranger and a retired member of SOPFEU tell about their daily life in the days when they were protecting our forests. You can also take a look at the main laws that have been passed over the years to protect our forests.

At the turn of the 20th century, the only means of fighting a forest fire was the bucket brigade. Modern technology has, needless to say, provided much more effective and efficient tools! Lightning detectors, surveillance aircraft, water bombers, computers and satellites are all used by the SOPFEU to complete its mission. You will see the equipment used to fight fires in the past. A computer module will take you on a virtual tour inside a Bombardier CL 415 water bomber, used in many countries around the world.

Modern technology enables the SOPFEU to play an effective role in fire prevention and firefighting. In this room, you will learn about the forest fire itself: location, cause, size and cost of putting it out. Various meteorological factors play a crucial role in SOPFEU employee decision-making. Lightning is responsible for nearly 30% of all forest fires. You will be able to see where it strikes the ground before starting a fire.

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