Forest Fires in Canada: 6 June 2000
6 June 2000
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes timely information about forest fires in Canada. The current fire situation for 5 June 2000 can be summarized as follows:
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over the last 24 hours: 36 new fires for 2,318 hectares
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season summary: total of 1,527 fires on 25,295 hectares.
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, 5 June 2000):
There are 6 forest fires burning in the province today.
4 fires have been extinguished in the past 24 hours and
5 new fires have been reported.
The total number of fires to date this year is 148.
The total up to this date last year was 164.
The five year average for this date is 210.
The whole report and further information can be accessed at the fire management website of Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management (SERM).
According to the National Forest Fire Situation Report of 31 May 2000, due to continuing rain across much of the country, area burned to date is only slightly more than 1/4 of normal. The risk of fire is low across most of the country, with dry conditions persisting only in small parts of Newfoundland. Drier weather expected over most of the country for the coming week may increase fire risk.
Tab. 1. Number and area of forest fires in Canada, as of 31 May 2000
(Source: Canadian Wildland Fire Information System)
2000
(to date) 10-year average in % of normal Prescribed burning Number 1,361 1,869 73% 31 Area (ha) 22,603 81,868 28% 5,791
The latest Wildfire Report from British Columbia from the 2 June 2000 issued, that provincial fire officials are reporting more fire starts so far this year than during the same period last year despite a generally cool, damp spring. Warm and drying conditions are forecasted for the next few days in the northern two thirds of the province. Some lightning activity is expected in the northeast. Forest service crews and aircraft are being repositioned in anticipation of increased activity in those areas. The southern one-third of the province is expected to remain cool, although sunshine is expected to prevail, particularly in the interior. The Peace River area and some areas around Invermere have been unseasonably dry, and spring drought conditions are expected to continue. Backyard burning is a primary 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 quickly. Anyone doing backyard burning must have hand tools, water and enough people available to keep the fire in check. Even with a low to moderate fire danger rating, campers, anglers and hikers are reminded to use precautions with campfires. People are reminded to make sure that their campfire is completely extinguished before they leave the area. Two hundred fifty-three wildfires have been reported in the province to date. Eighteen were lightning caused and 235 were people caused. On this date last year, a total of 192 wildfires had been reported provincially.
Fig. 1. Map of Fire Danger Rating for British Columbia, 5 June 2000.
(Source: British Columbia Forest Service
