DIVISION OF FOREST PROTECTION 



The 1955 fire season was considerably below average due to a 

 rather late spring and the absence of any prolonged periods of high hazard. 



A total of 881 fires burned an area of 5^,693 acres consisting 

 of 25 J 289 acres of mature growth, 5>0^-3 acres of young growth and the balance 

 of recent cut-over, old burn and non-forested land. 



Compared with the preceding year the number of fires was less 

 by 639 and was less than the average of the preceding five years by 386. 



Eighty-eight per cent of the fires were confined to an area 

 of less than ten acres each. 



Seven fires which burned In logging slash and dry grass 

 accounted for 85 per cent of the burned area, occurring In late May eind early 

 June. 



Lightning led in fire cause, being the origin of 252 fires 

 or 28 per cent and burned 62 per cent of the total area© Campers led the list 

 of human agencies with 221 fires and together with smokers totfiLLled 368, ac- 

 counting for 31 per cent of the area burned » 



The largest fire of the season occurred In pulpwood slash in 

 the White River district burning 1^,811 acres or 25 per cent of the total 

 area burned* This occurrence again emphasizes the difficulties of fire control 

 in large unbroken areas of logging slash. 



Fire Danger Conditions 



The comparatively late spring breaJc-up was followed during 

 late May and early June by a brief period of high hazard centering in the Whit* 

 River, Kapuskasing, Gogama, Cochrane and North Bay districts. It was during 

 this period that the above-mentioned seven slash fires occurred. 



During the latter part of June and into July, precipitation 

 dropped considerably below normal. As a result, 313 fires occurred during 

 the month of July, all of which were held to an average of 2.7 acres per fire. 



From early August throughout the balance of the season, 

 normal conditions of fire danger prevailed. 



Forest Fire Prevention 



Publicity & Education 



The continuous forest fire prevention programmes being carried 

 on throughout the districts are of great value. Direct contact with the 

 travelling public through the employment of check points and control gates 

 has proven most effective. In this work the Forest Travel Permit plays a 

 very important part and for this reason considerably more Importance was 

 placed upon this means of fire prevention, particularly in the Western Region. 



Daily forest fire press releases were given prominence in 

 the press, radio and television. To these agencies, we owe a debt of 

 gratitude for a fine presentation of forest fire information to the public 

 in accordance with actual daily conditions. 



For the first time, television stations took cameras and 

 sound equipment to the fire areas. Such on-the-scene recorded fire fighting 

 action provides very effective fire prevention material. 



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