FOREST PROTECTION SECTION 



Forest Fire Control 



Ehiring the 1962 fire season, 1,521 fires occurred, burning a total of 13,804 

 acres. The total number of fires was 15% above the average for the previous 

 decade (1952 to 1961 inclusive). 



The area burned was the third lowest on record. The two years with a 

 smaller area burned were 1952 and 1959, during which 12,421 acres and 5,281 

 acres, respectively, burned. 



The period of highest fire occurrence was from June 30th to July 19th. In 

 this 20-day period 404 fires were reported, 42 of which occurred on July 19th. 

 Most of these fires were located in the central and southern portion of the province. 

 Northwestern Ontario experienced a below normal season both from the stand- 

 point of fire occurrence and area burned. 



A number of high to extreme fire danger periods developed during the 1962 

 fire season, but, with the exception of the July period mentioned, all were of 

 relatively short duration. This condition contributed to the high fire occurrence 

 and low area burned record for the year. 



Fire Frequency by Cause. Lightning accounted for 20% of all fires reported during 

 the 1962 fire season. This is six per cent lower than the decade average for 1952 

 to 1961, inclusive. 



Prosecutions and Convictions. A total of 48 charges were laid under the Forest 

 Fires Prevention Act and Regulations, resulting in 43 convictions. 



FOREST FIRE SUPPRESSION 



Water dropping from Department aircraft again played an important role in 

 bringing many fires under control. This was particularly true during the high fire 

 occurrence period in July that has already been mentioned. For the first time, a 

 large helicopter, a Vertol H-21A, was successfully used to water drop on fires. 



FIRE CONTROL TRAINING 



A comprehensive new "fire control training" programme was launched in 

 1962 under the Department "Fire Control Training Officer". Two "bush" fire 

 schools were established, one at Cedar Lake in the Kenora area and the other 

 at Racine Lake near Chapleau. Forty-four staff members graduated from the special 

 four- week courses that were conducted. This is the first phase of the programme 

 which will include courses for all Department supervisory personnel and key co- 

 operators in the forest industries. This programme is designed to improve the 

 efficiency of forest fire fighting throughout Ontario. 



PRESCRIBED BURNING 



A number of prescribed bums were carried out in Ontario during 1962 to 

 eliminate certain hazards and for various forest management purposes. The con- 

 trolled use of fire is receiving recognition as an important forestry tool. A total 

 of 16 experimental bums on 2,200 acres of forest lands were conducted during 

 1962. 



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