GFMC: Forest Fires in Canada, 7 August 2000
7 August 2000
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes timely information about forest fires in Canada. The current fire situation for 6 August 2000 can be summarized as follows:
over the last 24 hours: 112 fires for 10,736 ha season summary: 4,044 fires for 451,529 hectares
According to the National Forest Fire Situation Report of 2 August 2000 (updated every Friday), that the fire activity remains below average in most areas, activity is increasing.
Number and area of forest fires in Canada, as of 2 August 2000
current uncontrolled controlled active modified 36 208 198 2000
(to date) 10-year
average in %
of normal Prescribed
burning Number 3,773 5,934 64% 40 Area (ha) 314,979 1,747,898 18% 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.
Daily fire overview map and season-to-date hotspot map for 6 August 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 (6 August 2000):
Fine Fuel Moisture Code 
Duff Moisture Code 
Drought Code 
Initial Spread Index 
Buildup Index 
Fire Weather Index 
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 (6 August 2000):
Foliar Moisture Content 
Surface Fuel Consumption 
Rate of Spread 
Total Fuel Consumption 
Head Fire Intensity 
Fire Type
The Saskatchewan Daily Forest Fire Situation Report (6 August 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: 26 extinguished in the past 24 hours: 2 new fires: 5 total number of fires to date this year: 367 total up to this date last year: 577 five year average for this date: 584
British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Report (6 August 2000):
Crews working vigourously on Creston fire
Fire officials have reassessed the lightning-caused fire burning in the Kootenay Forest District, and now estimate that it is approximately 25 hectares in size. Crews have been attempting various suppression methods since the fire south of Creston was first reported on Friday afternoon. The fire is located in very steep terrain and is also close to a power line, therefore, containing the blaze has been difficult. A 20-person unit crew from Slocan, one three-person initial attack crew and a six-person incident management team are currently working to suppress the fire. There are also two medium helicopters, one light helicopter and one heavy helicopter providing assistance on the blaze. U.S. Forest Service staff are also on site help develop land management objectives with Southeast Fire Centre officials, should the fire spread across the border. Firefighters and staff from throughout the province have been dispatched to the Southeast region to assist in suppressing the sudden rash of fires. Dry weather and increased lightning activity are responsible for most of the fire incidents, although the number of human caused fires is also high.
Wildfire Statistics Report, 6 August 2000
Number of Fires Burning: 132 Number of New Fires (Lightning): 2 Number of New Fires (Human Caused): 3 Total Lightning Fires: 470 Total Human Caused Fires: 418 Total Fires to Date: 888 Total Area Burned (ha): 12,733
Fire Danger Rating for British Columbia, 6 August 2000.
(Source: British Columbia Forest Service)
