Fire control problems were encountered during the peak 

 occurrence period in early June. Weather conditions con- 

 ducive to fire spread, coupled with accessibility problems to 

 the lightning fires, contributed significantly to the difficulty 

 of the fire suppression job. 



One of the highlights of the 1970 season activities was a 

 large-scale movement of trained unit crews, fire line super- 

 visory staff and equipment from areas of low fire danger 

 and occurrence to the active fire areas in the province. This 

 was done in anticipation of worsening fire situations so that 

 trained men were available for action in the areas requiring 

 additional aid. This resulted in the most effective fire sup- 

 pression effort possible under the adverse conditions. 



Fire-bombing aircraft played an important role in the fire 

 suppression activities. These aircraft provided the initial at- 

 tack on 161 fires and were used in support of ground crews 

 in numerous other cases. The quick response of the special- 

 ized aircraft to a fire report gives fire control personnel the 

 capabilitiy, in many cases, of effectively holdmg a fire until 

 ground crews can reach the scene. 



FIRE CONTROL TRAINING 



Fire Suppression Course I was presented to candidates from 

 each of the three administrative regions by regional fire 

 control instructors. A total of 64 Lands and Forests personnel 

 successfully completed the course this year. Two repre- 

 sentatives from the National Parks Service also completed 

 the course. A grand total of 510 personnel have been grad- 

 uated since 1962 when the course was first offered. 



Fire Suppression Couse II, containing material on ad- 

 vanced fire behaviour, organization and management, was 

 successfully completed by 24 senior supervisory personnel 

 consisting primarily of Chief Rangers and Deputy Chief 

 Rangers. A total of 57 people have been graduated from this 

 course during the two years it has been given. 



The fire simulator was used at Course II. Four programs 

 were presented to the candidates to demonstrate the equip- 

 ment and to reinforce some of the concepts presented 

 throughout the course. 



Staff participated in the organization and presentation of 

 the National Seminar on Aircraft Management sponsored 

 by the Associate Committee on Forest Fire Protection at 

 Petawawa, Ontario, in October. 



FIRE PREVENTION 



Forest fire information was made available to the public m 

 the Ontario-Quebec border regions through the facilities of 

 the C.B.C. under an agreement between the governments 



of the provinces. Daily information on present and fore- 

 casted fire danger, location of large fires and their history, 

 and any imposed restrictions were assembled at one loca- 

 tion for distribution to the French and Fnglish television net- 

 work stations in that area. 



Fire prevention information was also provided through 

 C.B.C. television stations in Winnipeg and Barrie. 



Radio stations and the press were used to convey forest 

 fire information to people on a local basis. 



Legislation, establishing restricted fire zones, was enforced 

 on a seasonal basis in the Wawa fume-damaged area of 

 White River Forest District. 



Restricted fire zones were established for the period, 

 August 14-24, in parts of Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay 

 districts and all of Fort Frances and Geraldton districts. 

 Sudbury and Chapleau districts were declared restricted fire 

 zones from August 14 to 31, as was White River from August 

 14 to 17. 



Restricted travel zones were declared in Ignace, Thunder 

 Bay and Shebandowan Chief Ranger Divisions for the period, 

 August 20-24. These measures were taken during a period 

 of extreme fire danger conditions in an attempt to reduce 

 the occurrence of man-caused fires. 



The four-minute program on Lands and Forests activities, 

 carried on the C.B.C. northern network, provided a medium 

 to advise the public in northern Ontario of the provincial 

 fire situation and the expected fire danger conditions. 



DEVELOPMENT WORK 



Land-Based Fire-Bombing Aircraft. A study was undertaken 

 to assess the use of wheeled aircraft to deliver long-term 

 fire retardants to fires as a means of initial attack. The long- 

 term retardants had been previously tested and proven as 

 a valuable aid in fire suppression. 



A study area in northwestern Ontario was chosen, and 

 operations research techniques were used to simulate the 

 use of various types of land-based fire-bombing aircraft 

 presently available to carry out the initial attack on fires in 

 that area. 



A prototype base was established at the Dryden Airport 

 for the month of August. The purpose was to familiarize 

 operating personnel with this concept in fire control. Long- 

 term retardant was delivered to fires using a Canso, Avenger 

 and A-26 type aircraft under the guidance of an air attack 

 boss situated in a bird-dog aircraft which accompanies the 

 air tankers on each mission. 



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