WARTIME INFLUENCE ON FOREST FIRES IN CANADA

Canada's forest-fire protection forces were seriously handicapped during the war years by reduced or inexperienced staff, owing to enlistment in the armed services, and by difficulty of securing equipment and supplies. In partial compensation the weather was, on the average, no worse than normal, and the number of fires attributable to campers, settlers and incendiaries was considerably reduced. Railway fires unavoidably showed a marked increase.The total number of fires during the 5-year period 1940-44 was 10 per cent less than in the pre-war fire seasons of 1935-39, but the size of the average fire (which has been used as a measure of the effectiveness of fire control) was 7½ per cent higher.So far as the war period is concerned this represents a creditable achievement on the part of the forest protection services of the country. When considered over a longer period, however, the situation is far from reassuring. During the last ten years the average fire was 20 per cent larger than in the previous decade, and in the past five years the average fire size was 52 per cent greater than it was in the period 1930-34 in spite of the fact that there were 19 per cent fewer fires to control.A long and gratifying down-trend in the average size of forest fires in Canada ended in the mid-1930's. More intensive fire-control measures must be taken in the post-war period if the former favourable situation is to be restored.