Forest Fires in Canada: 19 May 2000
19 May 2000
The operational forest fire monitoring website for Canada is providing a current view of all the forest fires in Canada.
Fig.1. Forest fire overview map of 18 May 2000
(Source: FireM3)
The above mentioned fire situation map can be directly accessed at the Fire Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling (FireM3) Project website (the FireM3 project is a collaboration of the Canadian Forest Service and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing). Through the Map Link you can access daily hotspot images. An Internet Map Server, which is like a simple GIS running on the host computer, allows you to zoom in on any fire or other area of interest and view the image and map data at full (1km) resolution. You can also click on any fire and get information about that fire.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes timely information about forest fires in Canada.
National Forest Fire Situation for 11 May 2000
Recent cool damp weather across most of Western Canada has reduced the forest fire hazard substantially. This system will continue to track east maintaining the low harards in the eastern regions. Saskatchewawan still has high to extreme hazards in the north eastern portion of the province.
According to the National Forest Fire Situation Report of 10 May 2000 the relatively low snowpack and dry early spring leading to a slightly above-average number of fires to date. The area burned to date has been less than 2/3 of normal, because to timely rains and cool weather in large parts of the country. The favorable weather conditions have cooled the fire situation over most of Canada. Significant risk continues only in parts of Saskatchewan. Most of the rest of the country can expect low fire activity over the next few days, due to rain across most regions.
Tab. 1. Number and area of forest fires in Canada, as of 10 May 2000
(Source: Canadian Wildland Fire Information System)
2000
(to date) 10-year average in % of normal Prescribed burning Number 966 912 106% 23 Area (ha) 21,404 34,404 62% 4,668
The Daily Forest Fire Situation Report is listing all forest fires currently burning in Saskatchewan and their current status. This report also gives statistics on the total number of fires to date.
Saskatchewan Daily Forest Fire Situation Report (10:00 AM, 18 May 2000):
There are 2 forest fires burning in the province today.
3 fires have been extinguished in the past 24 hours and
2 new fires have been reported.
The total number of fires to date this year is 106.
The total up to this date last year was 76.
The five year average for this date is 94.
The whole report and further information can be accessed at the fire management website of Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM).
The latest Wildfire Report from British Columbia from the 18 Mai 2000 issued that fire crews are ready in all fire centres and will be monitoring weather conditions and responding to any fire starts. Forest Service fire staff are asking the public to be careful with backyard burning and campfires this upcoming holiday weekend. Weather forecasts indicate that much of the province will experience clear skies with temperatures 3-4 degrees above normal. To date there have been 202 fires reported in the province (B.C.). Backyard burning is the cause for many of this year’s fires. Dry grass and brush provide excellent fuel for fire, and in windy conditions, a fire can spread surprisingly fast. Anyone doing backyard burning must have hand tools, water and enough people available to keep the fire in check.
