A maximum security prison in Canada’s Quebec, holding approximately 225 prisoners, had to be evacuated as massive forest fires continued to engulf the region. The evacuation, confirmed by Correctional Service Canada, involved the high-security Port-Cartier Institution, a facility known for housing notorious criminals.
In a statement released on Sunday, authorities confirmed the successful relocation of prisoners to other secure federal correctional facilities after an evacuation order was issued for the City of Port-Cartier. The alarm about the safety of the inmates was raised by prison authorities on Friday, prompting immediate action to ensure the safety of staff, the public, and the inmates.
The federal agency operating in the region informed victims connected to inmates about the situation, adhering to victims’ notification preferences. As a result of the evacuation, the institution is currently closed to visitors, personnel, contractors, and volunteers.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to all of our staff and partners who worked tirelessly to plan and successfully execute this complex operation in an evolving wildfire situation,” said Anne Kelly, commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada. “The safety of our staff, inmates and the public will continue to remain our top priority,” the press release furthered.
Port-Cartier Institution, a stand-alone maximum-security federal prison, is known for housing infamous killers like Robert Pickton, a Canadian serial killer. Luka Magnotta, who made international headlines for the brutal killing of an international student, was also held there until Canada’s Correctional Service moved him to a medium-security detention centre in 2022. The decision to transfer Magnotta was kept confidential by federal authorities.
Meanwhile, a general evacuation order was issued on Friday for residents of the north shore city as forest fires continued to rage on. The region’s Mayor, Alain Thibault, declared a state of emergency and instructed residents in the Parc Brunel and Parc Dominique Park areas, as well as those living north of Route 138, to evacuate immediately.
Provincial Public Security Minister François Bonnardel, in a post on X, formally known as Twitter, stated that the evacuation notice affects approximately 1,000 residents in the area. “Forest fires – North Shore: We approved this afternoon at a special council of ministers the payment of compensation of $1,500 per evacuated residence. Be careful. Fires threaten communities. Please follow the instructions of the authorities,” the Canadian minister wrote on X.
On Saturday, Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency reported that all forest fires in the region were caused by lightning strikes.
