Forest Fires in Canada

13 November 2000


The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes information about forest fires in Canada.
The last fire situation report for 20 September 2000 can be summarized as follows (for detailed information see the Canadian Daily Fire Situation Report):

season summary:

5,051 fires for 632,396 hectares

This year, CIFFC has mobilized to the United States over 1300 Canadian personnel, 300 MK 3 pump kits, 625 sprinkler heads and various equipment. All Canadian personnel have completed their various assignment in the USA and have returned to their home bases. This has been the largest Canadian mobilization into the USA in recorded history.

 

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 content of 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 (12 November 2000):

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Fine Fuel Moisture Code
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Duff Moisture Code
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Drought Code
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Initial Spread Index
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Buildup Index
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Fire Weather Index
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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 (12 November 2000):

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Foliar Moisture Content
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Surface Fuel Consumption
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Rate of Spread
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Total Fuel Consumption
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Head Fire Intensity
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Fire Type

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