DIVISION OF FOREST PROTECTION 



The 1955 fire season will long be remembered as one of the most 

 sustained and severe on record. The early disappearance of snow and rapid 

 run-off, coupled with abnormally high temperatures and periods of low hiimldity, 

 set the stage for a very serious early spring hazard. This period, usually 

 extending from about May 15th to June 30th, was not terminated by normal 

 precipitation and green growth. On the contrary, the severe fire danger con- 

 ditions continued throughout the months of June, July and August, creating 

 conditions of extreme drought. Water levels dropped steadily and many streams 

 with normal year-round flow dried up completely. Swamps, usually wet and 

 almost a sure source of water became dry and burned vigorously whereas they 

 could as a rule oe depended upon to constitute a fire break. 



The situation was further aggravated by a series of dry lightning 

 storms during July and August, the seriousness of which may be realized by the 

 fact that during the period July 15th to August 25th an average of twenty 

 fires per day were started by lightning. This in addition to several fires 

 from other causes presented a major fire suppression problem. 



The Fire Record 



A total of 2,258 fires occurred spreading over an area of 396,423 

 acres or about 600 square miles. 



Following is a comparison with previous records: 



Year Number of Fires Acres Burned 



1936 (worst year on record) 2264 1,264,433 



1948 (2nd worst year on record) 2036 1,017,389 



1954 881 56,693 



lO-year average (1946-55) 1463 189,862 



The burned-over area has been classified as follows: 



Mature growth - 103,246 acres or 27% 



Young grovrth - 89,051 acres or 24% 

 Burn, blowdown 



and non-forested - 204,126 acres or 49% 



The volume of damaged timber was estimated at 267 million cubic feet. 

 Salvage operations, where feasible, were commenced immediately following the 

 fires. 



846 fires or 37% were extinguished before reaching a size of ^ acre, 

 2,142 or 94% were less than 500 acres in size, 16 fires were between 500 and 

 1000 acres. 26 fires exceeded 1000 acres. 



The largest fire spread over 120,000 acres or 30% of the total fire 

 area and was caused by lightning. 



Lightning started 928 fires or 41% and burned 272,126 acres or 70% 

 of the total area. Fires by other causes in order of importance are: 

 Campers - 390; Smokers - 298; Railways - 189; Settlers - 148; Miscellaneous - 

 148; Logging Operations - 53; Unknown - 32; Incendiary - 31; Road Construction - 

 13; Mining Operations - 11 and Prospectors - 11. 



Fires occurred during eight months of the year, April to November 

 inclusive. July was the heaviest month when 709 fires burned 266,799 acres, 

 being 67% of the total area. 



- 1 - 



