GFMC: Forest Fires in Canada, 18 September 2000
18 September 2000
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) distributes information about forest fires in Canada.
The current fire situation for 15 September 2000 can be summarized as follows (for detailed information see the Canadian Daily Fire Situation Report):
over the last 24 hours: 2 new fires for 12 hectares season summary: 5,020 fires for 632,346 hectares
The month of August has been one of busiest ever at CIFFC. With over 1300 Canadian personnel, 300 MK 3 pump kits, 625 sprinkler heads and other equipment, coming from all over Canada, this has been the largest mobilization to the United States in CIFFC history. We currently have 668 personnel in the US, with some demobilization taking place tomorrow. With current weather conditions in the US, mobilization from Canada has diminished. Personnel that had been mobilized to British Columbia has been returned back to the lending agencies and with the cooler temperatures and precipitation, the forest fire season in Canada is slowly coming to an end.
Last National Forest Fire Situation Report from the 6 September 2000)
The fire season in Canada has lasted slightly longer than usual, despite the relatively small area burned. Over the past week, Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories have experienced significant area burned, while BC has brought a large umber of small fires under control. The large fires in the United States continue to burn, although most of the fires in the northwest are now under control thanks to rain over the past week. These fires are not expected to be extinguished for another week or two at least, and may continue to burn until the first snowfall. Resource requirements for these fires remain high, but are declining.
current uncontrolled controlled active modified 1 60 55 2000
(to date) 10-year
average in %
of normal Prescribed
burning Number 5,023 7,681 65% 41 Area (ha) 627,202 2,408,562 26% 7,881
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 (17 September 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 (17 September 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 (last update from 13 September 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: 3 extinguished in the past 24 hours: 0 new fires: 0 total number of fires to date this year: 401 total up to this date last year: – five year average for this date: –
British Columbia Forest Service – Wildfire Statistics Report from 12 September 2000 shows:
Number of Fires Burning: 28 Number of New Fires (Lightning): 0 Number of New Fires (Human Caused): 0 Total Lightning Fires: 872 Total Human Caused Fires: 546 Total Fires to Date: 1,418 Total Area Burned (ha): 16,433
Fire Danger Rating for British Columbia, 17 September 2000.
(Source: British Columbia Forest Service)
