FOREST PROTECmOlM BRANCH 



The main objectives of the Forest Protection Branch are tc 

 protect Provincial forest lands from damage by fire and 

 pests, to protect life and property from forest fires, and toi 

 provide flying and communication services for the Depart-; 

 ment. The Branch is divided into two sections — Forest 

 Protection and Air Service. 



FOREST PROTECTION 



Forest fires and area burned in Ontario during 1966 fire 

 season were as follows: 1 



Number Percent Area Percent 



Man Caused Fires 1,382 



Lightning Fires 539 



Totals 1,921 



72 

 28 



100 



10,293 

 4,122 



14,415 



71 

 29 



lOO" 



Although the area burned over was one of the lowest on 

 record, the number of fires was the fifth highest on record 

 since 1917. For purposes of comparison, the average number 

 of fires during the past fifteen years (1951-1965) was 1,376 

 per year and the average area burned over during the same 

 period was 151,498 acres per year. 



On July 22, 1966, in co-operation with the Ontario Forestry 

 Association, a historical plaque was unveiled near Matheson 

 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the forest fires 

 which ravaged Matheson and other neighbouring communi- 

 ties during July of 1916. 



An experimental sferics-radar system was used to plot 

 lightning storm movement in North-western Ontario with the 

 objective of delineating areas requiring intensified detection 

 for lightning fire coverage. 



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 

 Kenora and Temagami areas. Operating in addition to and 

 independently from the regular detection system, the results 

 were favourable. However, additional studies are required 

 before the system can be considered operational. 



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