Tag Archives: forest fire

Parks Canada officials are letting 5 fires burn themselves out in Pukaskwa National Park in northern Ontario.

4 of the fires were caused by lightning, and 1 is a prescribed burn.

The prescribed burn was carried out in the Cascade Lake area. This area is a mixed-wood site that is being actively managed by Parks Canada, who have a goal of regenerated 65% of the area.  Approximately 215 hectares were burned this month in a fire that was lit aerially. The fire is showing little activity and is expected to smoulder for a few weeks.

Two of the lightning caused fires are about 15 hectares in size. The other 2 measure less than a hectare each.  These fires are also exhibiting minimal spreading activity and will smoulder until self-extinguished by natural elements.

Due to the isolated locations, these fires pose no risk to park visitors or property.

Pukaskwa National Park is a national park located south of the town of Marathon, Ontario in the Thunder Bay District of northern Ontario, Canada. Established in 1978, Pukaskwa is known for its vistas of Lake Superior and boreal forests.

Source: Parks Canada

Although fall has officially arrived, fire conditions in the Prince George Fire Centre in British Columbia remain volatile and new incidents are being reported daily.

B.C.’s Wildfire Management Branch reminds the public to take precautions when enjoying the backcountry.

Campfires are still permitted throughout the Prince George Fire Centre, but they must be kept smaller than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure it is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area.

Open fires larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide are currently prohibited across most of the fire centre, with the exception of the Fort Nelson Forest District and the portion of the Prince George Forest District east of Highway 97. (see map of affected areas)

Given the number of large, “modified response” fires currently burning in the northeast part of the province, the Wildfire Management Branch asks members of the public to avoid areas where fires are active. Further information on these incidents and their locations can be found in the “Fires of Note” section of: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
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Firefighters were able to save a historic ranger station in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State recently by wrapping the building in an aluminized structure wrap.

The tinfoil wrap protected the historic building from radiant heat and burning embers when a forest fire threatened the area last week.

This old ranger station was building in 1909.  It is one of only 8 ranger stations from the early U.S. Forest Service period (1905-1912) in the Pacific Northwest that still exist. They represent the earliest period of national forest administration.

More about the tinfoil fire shield

Fire shields that you can cover your house with during a forest fire threat are now commercially available.

You can purchase the foil in a roll, or you can have a custom-made covering manufactured that will fit your house specifications.

The foil acts as a fire shield and reflects most of the radiant heat from the fire, and protects your roof from the burning embers.  Many homes that are lost when a forest fire approaches were ignited by embers.

Read more:
Tinfoil saves oldest building from wildfire in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Construction will start this week on a $1.2-million firefighting centre in Valemount, British Columbia.

The Valemount Fire Zone is currently home to two full-time staff and 11 seasonal staff, including two auxiliary staff and three three-person initial attack crews.

The two-storey structure will replace the Wildfire Management Branch’s existing trailer complex on property leased from the Village of Valemount. The 350 square metre building will house a fire zone office and initial attack base, featuring an operations centre, staff offices, briefing room, workshop and fire crew facilities.

The centre will be better equipped to accommodate regional firefighting operations and will also support other Wildfire Management Branch priorities such as fuel management.

It is expected to be fully operational by the start of the 2013 fire season.

Source: Government of British Columbia

An evacuation alert has been issued for the Suhm Creek area, approximately 112 to 128 kilometres northeast of Fort Nelson, British Columbia.

The specific area under alert is 7 kilometres north of the July and June Lakes and south to 7 kilometres past Petitot River. This area includes the CNRL Gas Plant and Penn West facilities.

The area is not under immediate danger. The winds are currently blowing the fire away from the area under alert of evacuation, however the alert is in place in case the wind direction changes.

An evacuation alert is issued to prepare residents in the affected area that it may become necessary to evacuate their premises or property.

The fire started 2 weeks ago by lightning and is currently only being monitored, not attacked, because it is burning in a remote area of British Columbia. The fire is currently 5,000 hectares in size.

Read more:
EVACUATION ALERT: Suhm Creek. Issued July 19, 2012 at 2:30PM (Emergency Info BC)
Wildfires of Note: The Pesh Fire (G90160) (British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range – Wildfire Management Branch)
Evacuation Alert (Fort Nelson Northern Rockies Regional Municipality) (.pdf)

As of noon today, open fires are banned in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources said the open fire ban will remain in effect until further notice. A significant rainfall will be required before a decision is made to lift the ban.

The ban prohibits setting open fires for any purpose in woods or within 305 metres (1,000 feet) of woods in any part of the province.  This fire ban includes backyard chimineas.

There have been 289 wildfires in the province of Nova Scotia so far this year, burning 766.9 hectares of land.

Image Source: Canadian Wildland Fire Information System – Fire Danger Map – July 11, 2012

The fire danger rating is heating up across Canada.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Inc. reported today that Most Agencies have Low to Moderate wildland fire hazard and load with a moderate potential for increased load. Wildland fire activity is occurring and a potential exists for escapes to larger (project) fires.

British Columbia

The drying trend is continuing across British Columbia where the skies are hazy with fires from eastern Russia.

Air quality advisories have been issued recently in Quesnel, Williams Lake, Prince George, Kamloops, Merritt, Smithers, Burns Lake and Houston.

Starting on July 13, there will be an open fire ban in northwestern B.C.

Alberta

Alberta is reporting multiple fires in northern Alberta due to the extreme fire hazard.  Conditions are hot and dry.

The hamlet of Zama City in northwestern Alberta has been evacuated due to a nearby fire that has burned an estimated 1,000 square kilometres.

Fires have closed Highway 35 to the Northwest Territories several times since last Friday.

Saskatchewan

There are 35 fires burning in Saskatchewan today.

Manitoba

There are 32 fires currently burning in Manitoba.  All areas of the province are experiencing high temperatures.  Lightning has caused many fires, especially in the northeast and eastern parts of the province.

Ontario

Hot dry weather continues in Ontario where open fire bans are not only found in the traditional forested northern areas of the province, but also in southwestern Ontario in farm country where all vegetation is said to be extremely dry.

Today the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources said their chief area of concern for new fires stretches from Sault Ste. Marie through Sudbury and then southeast through Algonquin Park. Good fuel availability coupled with low humidity makes this area particularly fire prone. In the Northwest Region, the Geraldton, Kenora and Red Lake districts also have elevated fire hazards.

Ontario firefighting resources have been strategically located around the province to deal with anticipated fire activity. Quickstrike waterbombing agreements have been set-up with Quebec and Manitoba in recent weeks to address fires occurring near provincial borders.

Quebec

The fire danger in Quebec currently ranges from high in most areas, to extreme in several areas, including Montreal, Laval, and Temiscamingue.

Many fires have been started recently due to improperly extinguished campfires. The SOPFEU is urging people to prepare campfires away from vegetation, and to make sure the fire is completely out when they are done.

New Brunswick

The entire province of New Brunswick is under an open fire ban.

Nova Scotia

The forest fire hazard in Nova Scotia ranges from high to extreme across the province today.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has 3 helicopters on standby at their headquarters in Shubenacadie, and 2 more helicopters stationed elsewhere in the province.

There is a concern that the amount of dead wood in the forests in the province, from hurricanes and other powerful storms in recent years, could increase the risk of fire.

Yukon Territory

There is an extreme fire danger rating for the Watson Lake District, while all other districts in the territory have a low rating.

Northwest Territories

79 fires are being monitored today.

Many areas of Northwest Territories are dry with windy conditions prompting officials to remind people to be careful with their campfires and to makes sure all campfires are out before leaving.

Across Canada, there have been 3636 reported fires so far this year, burning 688,198.76 hectares.  By this date last year, there had been 2,317 fires that had burned 1,842,211 hectares.

View ForestTalk.com’s collection of Forest Fire Links for additional info in your area.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment has sent 3 of its planes to the United States to help fight wildfires there.

The planes will work with United States Forest Service for 10 to 14 days, with a possibility of an extension.

Current forest conditions in Saskatchewan have allowed the ministry to make some of its resources, including these aircraft, available to assist other jurisdictions.

A pair of Convair 580A air tankers and one Turbo Commander birddog aircraft, along with eight crewmembers, left Saskatchewan on Tuesday for Boise, Idaho. Staff were briefed before being deployed to Grand Junction, Colorado on June 13 to work under the direction of the United States Forest Service.

“Agreements to share firefighting resources are in place across Canada and the U.S. to make the most effective use of our collective capacity,” Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. “Saskatchewan has certainly benefitted from resource sharing agreements during times of high fire activity here, so we’re pleased to be in a position to assist the U.S. at this time.”

Source: Government of Saskatchewan

The Prince George Fire Centre responded to 16 new fire starts on May 28 after lightning moved through the northern portion of the fire centre.

All 16 fires are believed to be have been caused by lightning, with the largest covering 20 hectares. Air patrols will occur today and crews will move into areas of concern. None of the fires are threatening any structures at this time.

The fire danger rating throughout the Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction currently ranges from moderate to high. The areas of high fire danger rating are in the Peace Region and around Prince George.

Quick Facts:

•  Category 2 fires are currently restricted throughout most of the Prince George Fire Centre, with the exception of the Fort Nelson Fire Zone. The public is urged to be extremely cautious when using fire outdoors. Continue to check http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp for the latest on burning restrictions.
• Since April 1, fire crews have responded to 87 wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre, with a provincial total of 234 wildfires.
• To report a wildfire or unattended campfire in British Columbia, call *5555 on your cell phone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free.

To follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Here is a video from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources showing a Bird Dog and a water bomber respond to a small lightning fire in the North Bay District.

This video was taken on May 28 and it shows the North Bay 26 fire that is now out.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources