13 June 2000
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes timely information about forest fires in Canada. The current fire situation for 12 June 2000 can be summarized as follows:
| over the last 24 hours: | 11 new fires for 194 hectares |
| season summary: | 1,654 fires for 35,641 hectares |
According to the National Forest Fire Situation Report of 7 June 2000, due to continuing cool wet weather across much of the country, area burned to date is only 1/5 of normal. Risk of fire is low across most of the country, with dry conditions persisting only in small parts of Manitoba.
Tab. 1. Number and area of forest fires in Canada, as
of 7 June 2000
(Source: National Forest Fire Situation Report)
| 2000 (to date) |
10-year average | in % of normal | Prescribed burning | |
| Number | 1,587 | 2,211 | 72% | 31 |
| Area (ha) | 34,972 | 174,207 | 20% | 5,791 |
The Saskatchewan Daily Forest Fire Situation Report (12
June) 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.
There are 3 forest fires burning in the province today.
1 fire has been extinguished in the past 24 hours and
2 new fires have been reported.
The total number of fires to date this year is 161.
The total up to this date last year was 201.
The five year average for this date is 244.
The whole report and further information can be accessed at the fire management website of
"Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management" (SERM).
The latest British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Report (8 June 2000)
issued, Firefighting recruits have completed their two-week boot camp training in
Merritt and are ready for this year's fire season. The rigorous training program gives
recruits essential skills and knowledge in fire-line safety, first aid, fire behaviour,
fire-suppression techniques, helicopter safety and fire-line communications. B.C. Forest
Service firefighters are recognized internationally for their skill and expertise in fire
safety and suppression techniques. This season, 765 men and women applied for available
firefighting jobs. Of the total, 142 applications came from women and 623 from men. Since
the introduction of provincial physical fitness and fire crew training standards in the
early 1990s, the number of injuries and associated costs, when compared to using untrained
temporary firefighters, has dropped by 85 per cent. Almost 90 per cent of the province's
firefighters are recalled from previous years. The protection program will employ about
275 First Nations firefighters, 75 female firefighters, and 500 male firefighters this
year.
278 wildfires have been reported in the province to date. 29 were lightning caused and 249
were people caused. So far, a total of 11,275 hectars have been burned.
Fig. 1. Fire Danger Rating for British Columbia, 12
June 2000.
(Source: British Columbia Forest
Service)