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REPORT OF THE 



No. 3 



of persons employed for at least a part of the season, was 1,228. Of these 142 

 resigned, and 69 were dismissed. <(* 



Owing to the fire season being early, over half the staff (568) were on duty 

 by the middle of May, and by the end of the month the number had risen to 

 962. On the fifteenth of June, the total number on the pay roll was 1,014; on 

 the first of July, 1,022; on the fifteenth of July, 1,036; on the first of August, 

 1,029, and on the fifteenth of August, 1,034. By the end of August, however, 

 it was possible to discontinue several patrols, so that the total number of men 

 on duty was reduced from 1,034 to 977 between the middle and the end of 

 August. On the fifteenth of September, there were only 533 men on duty, 

 and by the end of the month this number had been reduced to 78, practically 

 all of those left being engaged in repairing equipment and finishing up certain 

 local improvements. 



As stated in previous reports, one of the chief factors mitigating against 

 a successful controlling of forest fires in Ontario, is the impermanency of the 

 personnel. Fire-ranging is a specialized line of work, requiring special training, 

 and until a permanent organization of trained men is built up, progress will 

 be slow. 



(3) Expenditure. 



The expenditure for the fiscal year was $610,534.74, classified as below, 

 with the figures for the preceding years given for comparison. Against this 

 expenditure, protection accounts for the year totalled approximately $181,047.32. 



CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE. 



* Figures rounded off. 



(4) Fires. 



There was very little snow in the winter of 1920-21 and this disappeared 

 very early in the spring. Then followed very unusual weather conditions, 

 practically no rain falling in some districts until August, and in others not until 

 September. Because of this early hazard it was necessary to place the full 

 ranging staff on duty as fast as possible. 



