FOREST PROTECTION BPRANCH 



OBJECTIVES 



1. To protect Provincial forest lands against damage by fire 

 and pests to the degree warranted by requirements for 

 wood products, recreation and other public needs. 



2. To protect life and property from forest fires. 



3. To encourage and promote the protection of privately- 

 owned forest lands. 



4. To provide flying and communication services and to 

 administer the construction and equipment program for 

 the Department. 



ORGANIZATION 



Forest Protection Branch is divided into two Sections and 

 their subordinate units with duties and responsibilities as 

 follows. 



FOREST PROTECTION 



Forest Fire Control: Administration of The Forest Fires 

 Prevention Act; organization of fire districts and the fire 

 warden system; supervision of fire control planning and 

 preparedness; fire prevention programs including a system 

 of travel, fire and work permits; co-operative fire prevention 

 and control agreements with Municipalities, Railways, Forest 

 Industries and other agencies; detection of forest fires and 

 fire danger warnings; training of staff and co-operators in 

 fire control techniques; prescribed burning; co-ordination of 

 fire suppression, movement of resources and emergency 

 arrangements. 



Forest Pest Control: Prevention and control of damage by 

 insects, diseases and other pests affecting forests under 

 Department management; advisory services. 

 Communications: Planning, installation and operation of 

 radio, telephone and teletype services for fire control and 

 other Department requirements; construction of specialized 

 communication equipment. 



Plant and Equipment: Planning, budgeting and supervision 

 of Departmental construction, equipment and sign pro- 

 grams; inventory of Department establishments; liaison with 

 Department of Public Works; prescribing equipment comple- 

 ments, maintenance and replacement standards; vehicle 

 records, licensing and insurance. 

 AIR SERVICE 



Operates a fleet of aircraft to meet flying requirements of 

 the Department and special needs of other Government 

 Departments; selection and training of pilots and air 

 engineers; deployment of aircraft and crews; establishment 

 of air bases; fuel distribution and caches; selection of air- 

 craft equipment and development of special equipment; 

 leasing and disposition of helicopters and other aircraft; 

 checking pilot proficiency and the overhaul and mainten- 

 ance of aircraft. 



FOREST FIRE PROTECTION 

 Forest Fire Control 

 THE 1966 FIRE RECORD 



During the 1966 season, 1.921 forest fires occurred in 

 Ontario, burning 14,415 acres. Although this is the fifth 

 highest number of fires recorded since the year 1917, th. 

 acreage burned was the fourth lowest over the same perioc 

 of time. 



The average area burned per fire of 7.5 acres is the second 

 lowest recorded and only surpassed by the 1959 average fire 

 size of 5.0 acres. 

 STATISTICS 



The month of July shattered all records since 1936 for the 

 most fires occurring in any one month. A total of 906 fires 

 started during this month. 



The trend to higher fire occurrence continued in 1966. The 

 average incidence over the past five years of 1,674 fires is 

 28 per cent greater than the previous five year average of 

 1,304 fires. 

 FIRE PREVENTION 



On July 29th 1966, a historical plaque was unveiled near 

 Matheson, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 

 forest fires which ravaged Matheson and other neighbouring 

 communities during July 1916. This program was carried 

 out in co-operation with the Ontario Forestry Association. 

 The Matheson fire of 1916 is the worst in recorded Canadian 

 history, taking a total of 223 lives. 

 FIRE DETECTION 



As part of a fire detection improvement program, further 

 infrared detection trials were conducted in 1966. Unfortun- 

 ately, the modified system was not available for field testing 

 until late in August of 1966. The system was mounted on the 

 wing-tip of a Turbo-Beaver aircraft and test-flown for a two 

 week period in Northwestern Ontario. One wildfire (approxi- 

 mately 200 acres) was flown and mapped while increasing 

 in size and during the mop-up and patrol stage. The film 

 results were good. In addition, a lightning fire was dis- 

 covered for the first time by this system before being 

 reported by any other reporting agency. It is planned to 

 operate this unit for the complete 1967 fire season for 

 further evaluation. 



An aircraft detection study, initiated in Sault Ste. Marie 

 District in 1963, was expanded to include two additional 

 areas of approximately 2,000 square miles each in the 

 vicinity of Kenora and Temagami. Within the two new study 

 areas the regular detection system functioned normally and 

 independantly from the aircraft system. Although results 

 were favourable, additional studies are required before the 

 system can be considered operational. 

 TRAINING 



Some 260 Department personnel have now completed the 

 intensive five-week fire suppression instructor training 

 course. Graduates of this course carried out individual 

 District and Division training programs. Reduced fire losses 

 and improved management of fire fighting operations have 

 been experienced as a result of the program. 

 Approximately 300 Indians received a 10-day fire suppression 

 training course. This force was organized into 10 or 15-man 

 crews, and maintained at key headquarters across the 

 Province for the duration of the fire season. 

 A short training course was developed on law enforcement 

 and fire investigation procedures as they apply to the 

 Forest Fires Prevention Act. 



