84 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Suppression: 



The operation reports for the season 1925 indicated that greater advantage 

 has been taken of the capacity of aircraft to participate in fire suppression work. 

 The comparative figures for the two years are as follows: — 



In 1924 the total of 42.52 hours was flown. 



In 1925 the total of 155.45 hours was flown. 



This in the transportation of fire fighters and fire fighting equipment. 



Some very heavy loads were carried, and in August it was found necessary 

 to transfer a machine from Remi Lake, where the fire hazard was low, to Sud- 

 bury. The machine in question was used for fire suppression exclusively. 



During the month of August at Sudbury, twenty-three fire suppression 

 flights were carried out totalling 52.10 hours. The total weight of fire fighting 

 equipment carried was 10,583 pounds and mileage flown 3,130 miles. 



This flying was not entirely confined to the transportation of fire fighters 

 and equipment to remote newly detected fires, but also for the rapid transit of 

 supplies, etc., to the crews fighting these fires. Quoting: "An excellent example 

 of the effectiveness of aircraft in dealing with a certain type of fire was afforded 

 on August 1st, at Randolph Lake, near Armstrong on the Canadian National 

 Railway, reference flight report 0.B.-18." 



On detecting this fire, the machine landed immediately. Investigation 

 showed that the crew could not cope with the fire, that the proportions were 

 such that it would need the proper fire fighting equipment. The machine at 

 once took off and flew to Macdiarmid, where two fire rangers, pumps and hose 

 were picked up and flown back to the fire. As a result of the combined efforts 

 of the crew, consisting of the observer, pilot and air engineer, and two fire 

 rangers, the fire was attacked and pronounced out at 19 o'clock, 5 hours and 

 50 minutes from the time it was first detected. In view of the fact that this 

 fire was over seven miles from the nearest fire fighting equipment, in a country 

 which was decidedly difficult to travel, and burning at the edge of an excellent 

 stand of timber, the value of the saving of time afforded by the use of aircraft 

 on suppression may be appreciated. The value of such flights is practically 

 inestimable. 



Remote Transportation: 



Useful flying should be steadily encouraged. Fast and safe transportation 

 to areas at present remote and inaccessible, save by long and arduous journeys, 

 was accomplished in the operating season of 1925. The following transportation 

 flights quoted: The payment of Indian Treaty for the Federal Government 

 which included the remote Hudson Bay and the French Company posts of the 

 James Bay District, as far north as Attawapiskat on James Bay; the trans- 

 portation of Hudson Bay Company district staff officers from Moose Factory 

 to Remi Lake and the return flight with the district manager and his family 

 from Remi Lake to Moose Factory; the transportation of Doctor Cockburn 

 from Remi Lake to Moose Factory; the transportation of prospectors and 

 mining equipment supplies to the Red Lake gold rush in the late season of 1925; 

 the successful flights in connection with the James D. Lacey sketching pro- 

 gramme in the late season of 1925 on the Ottawa River; the flights participated 

 in by Hydro- Electric engineers over the Nipigon watershed; the flight of remote 

 transportation participated in by the Hon. James Lyons in connection with the 

 inspection of remote operating stations of the Provincial Air Service in con- 

 junction with flights of Indian Treaty Transportation Flight and other flights 

 which will be dealt with in greater detail in the annual report. 



