GFMC: Forest Fires in Canada, 26 July 2000

Forest Fires in Canada

26 July 2000


The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes timely information about forest fires in Canada. The current fire situation for 25 July 2000 can be summarized as follows:

over the last 24 hours: 69 fires for 2,575 ha season summary: 3,136 fires for 219,426 hectares

 

According to the National Forest Fire Situation Report of 19 July 2000 (updated every Friday), that the area burned is 11% of normal, due to continuing wet weather in much of the country. High fire risk is in British Columbia and the northwest, with warmer and drier weather over much of the country expected to increase risk in all regions.

Number and area of forest fires in Canada, as of 19 July 2000

current uncontrolled controlled active modified 2 90 96   2000
(to date)
10-year
average
in %
of normal
Prescribed
burning
Number 2,808 4,907 57% 40 Area (ha) 148,964 1,365,929 11% 7,863

 

The Fire Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling (FireM3) is a collaboration of the Canadian Forest Service and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing. Through the Map Link at the FireM3 web site 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 (1 km) resolution. You can also click on any fire and get information about that fire.

click here to enlarge (23 KB) click here to enlarge (29 KB) click here to enlarge (23 KB)

Satellite image, daily fire overview map and season-to-date hotspot map for 25 July 2000
(Source: FireM3)

 

The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System is a part of the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System and consists of six components that account for the effects of fuel moisture and wind on fire behavior. The first three components are fuel moisture codes and are numerical ratings of the moisture content of litter and other fine fuels, the average moisture contentof loosely compacted organic layers of moderate depth, and the average moisture content of deep, compact organic layers. The remaining three components are fire behavior indexes which represent the rate of fire spread, the fuel available for combustion, and the frontal fire intensity; their values rise as the fire danger increases. For futher information please see the Summary Information.

The latest available images are shown below (25 July 2000):

click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Fine Fuel Moisture Code click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Duff Moisture Code click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Drought Code click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Initial Spread Index click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Buildup Index click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Fire Weather Index click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Fire Danger Rating

 

The Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System is an other part of the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System and provides quantitative estimates of head fire spread rate, fuel consumption, fire intensity, and fire description. With the aid of an elliptical fire growth model, it gives estimates of fire area, perimeter, perimeter growth rate, and flank and back fire behavior. For futher information please see the Summary Information.

The latest available images are shown below (25 July 2000):

click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Foliar Moisture Content click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Surface Fuel Consumption click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Rate of Spread click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Total Fuel Consumption click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Head Fire Intensity click to enlarge (30 - 40 KB)
Fire Type

 

The Saskatchewan Daily Forest Fire Situation Report (25 July 2000) 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. The whole report and further information can be accessed at the fire management website of “Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management” (SERM).

fires burning in the province today: 25 extinguished in the past 24 hours: 3 new fires: 6 total number of fires to date this year: 326 total up to this date last year: 551 five year average for this date: 540

 

British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Report (24 July 2000):
Firefighters continue battle near Kootenay
Fifty-five Forest Service firefighters are battling a wildfire burning vigorously today on the east side of Kootenay Lake north of Creston. Air tankers and helicopters with water buckets continue to support firefighters in their efforts. The 87-hectare fire close to Sanca Creek was caused by lightning and was spotted by a patrol plane on Saturday. Access by road has been difficult, and sparks have ignited smaller spot fires outside the main fire area. A special incident command management team has been assigned to this wildfire to develop a strategy for its containment. The fire has not become a threat to homes or property. The main concern for firefighters is the possibility of a shift in wind direction. This could cause the fire to change direction and burn outside the fireguards into timber. There were a total of 61 new fires in the Southeast Fire Centre area over the weekend.

Wildfire Statistics Report, 25 July 2000

Number of Fires Burning: 142 Number of New Fires (Lightning): 0 Number of New Fires (Human Caused): 3 Total Lightning Fires: 276 Total Human Caused Fires: 383 Total Fires to Date: 659 Total Area Burned (ha): 12,524

click here to enlarge (17 KB)

Fire Danger Rating for British Columbia, 25 July 2000.
(Source: British Columbia Forest Service)

 

The International Crown Fire Modelling Experiment (ICFME) in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories/Canada, ended with its final chapter, Phase IV, on 1 July 2000. During the experimental phases a special ICFME website was updated daily. A new archive about

  • 2000 daily updates
  • a list of fire research and operational people and
  • social hi-lites from Ft. Providence during the experiment

is available on the ICFME website. The experiment has been also described in the International Forest Fire News (IFFN) No. 21 (September 1999).

 


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