Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1950 Page 46 



DIVISION OF FOREST PROTECTION 



FIRE AND HAZARD CONDITIONS 



Meteorological records indicate that the 1949 season was the driest on record 

 in some areas, especially the southerly portion of the Province. When precipitation did 

 occur it was, in most instances, accompanied by lightning which resulted in a total 

 of 468 fires starting from that source. This number of lightning fires is considerably 

 above the average for a normal season. During the last few days of August, 68 

 lightning fires were being fought. 



Periods of high hazard occurred in early May in the Western and Mid-Western 

 Regions, early June in the Northern and Central Regions, early July across the 

 Province and the most severe hazard was from August 8th to August 30th in the 

 Central and Southern Regions. On August 19th, 170 fires were being fought. No 

 serious fail hazard developed. 



The area under protection in 1950 was approximately 173,000 square miles or 

 110,720,000 acres. 



FIRE CONTROL PLANNING 



Progress in fire control planning during the year included the placing of fly- 

 wheel magnetizers and coil and condenser test sets in each district workshop, the 

 supplying of aerial cameras to all aircraft, the installation of a Fire Data Board in 

 Main Office, the testing of various types of tractors and the Michigan Sulky Plow for 

 fire line construction, the ordering of fifty steel lookout towers for erection in 1950, 

 the adoption of standard terminology for describing the condition of fires, the develop- 

 ment of a standard aircraft fire detection form, the planning of a tank truck unit for 

 development and construction in 1950 and the establishment of an Equipment Com- 

 mittee to act as a clearing agency for all problems pertaining to equipment. 



FOREST INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL 



The policy of co-operating with the Dominion Department of Agriculture in 

 the study and control of forest insects and tree diseases was continued. The Forest 

 Insect Laboratory at Sault Ste. Marie owned by the Ontario Government and staffed 

 and operated by the Dominion provides a ready source of information concerning the 

 location and degree of insect infestation and effective control measures. 



IMPROVEMENTS 



The Department of Public Works carried out the construction of the larger 

 buildings and renovation of fish hatcheries. The Department of Lands and Forests 

 carried out the construction of the smaller buildings and repair and maintenance of 

 buildings, fish hatcheries, telephone lines, etc. 



Jjndex of- ^J able 3 



Table No. Page 



1. Total improvements completed to March 31, 1950 - - - - 47 



2. Radio stations in operation in 1949 ---------47 



3. Classification of forest fires, by month -------47 



4. Classification of forest fires, by origin -------48 



5. Classification of forest fires, by size --------48 



6. Classification of area burned over, by month ----- 48 



