Canadian Forcslry Journal, June, 191S 1753 



Great Fire Hazard in N. W. Ontario 



Representatives of railways, lum- 

 ber and pulp and paper interests, the 

 Ontario Government and fire rangers 

 of Ontario recently held an import- 

 ant meeting at Port Arthur, in an 

 endeavor to secure closer co-operation 

 of all interests in the prevention and 

 lighting of forest fires. 



It was shown that the protection 

 of the existing pulp and timber limits 

 was absolutely essential to the future 

 of the lumbering and pulp and paper 

 industries. It was no less important 

 to the agricultural future, since lands 

 that had been badly burned over 

 were rendered practically useless by 

 the destruction of the soil. The 

 district covered by the meeting boasts 

 of its potential water powers, yet 

 if the forest areas were destroyed, 

 the value of these resources for 

 water power purposes would be cut 

 in two for all time and the rivers 

 made subject to excessive floods and 

 droughts with resultant damage to all 

 dependent interests. 



Reasons For High Hazard 

 The hazard in the district was 

 rendered much greater: 



1. Because of the abnormally dry 

 spring weather and almost entire 

 absence of rains, and location in 

 proximity to Lake Superior, which 

 retards the early spring growth. 



2. High prevaihng winds during 

 the dry period of April, May and 

 June. 



3. Increased danger from settlers' 

 fires, due to opening up and clearing 

 of lands. 



4. From Loon Lake on the east 

 to the height of land at Raith, on the 

 C. P. R. and C. G. R., and Kasha- 

 bo\\'ie on the C. N. R. there are the 

 heaviest railroad grades between the 

 Atlantic seaboard and the Rocky 

 Mountains. The consequent danger 

 from locomotive fires in this area are 

 greatly increased. 



Publiciii] and Vigilance 

 It was recognized that in addition 

 to all other precautions, that publicity 

 co-operation, and eternal vigilance 



on the part of all concerned, must be 

 secured. 



On behalf of the Department of 

 Lands, Forests and Mines, L. E. 

 Bliss, Superintendent of Fire Rangers 

 said that he fully recognized the 

 seriousness of the situation, and 

 stated that his department which 

 had recently been reorganized, had 

 arranged for increased protection. 

 Ina short timehehoped to have such 

 measures and protection in force as 

 would be second to none in either 

 Canada or the United States. 



The department was providing 

 for additional equipment such as 

 truck, car, rangers, and lookouts, 

 etc., and that the fire laws would be 

 strictly enforced, that a special 

 endeavor would be made to locate 

 the cause of all fires, and to hold all 

 earless parties legally liable for in- 

 fraction and disregard of the fire 

 laws, for which heavy penalties are 

 provided, that during the extreme 

 dry season all setting out of fires 

 would be prohibited if found advis- 

 able. It was in the interests of all, 

 therefore, that no fires should be 

 allowed to get beyond control, that 

 would endanger the property of others, 

 otherwise drastic measures would 

 have to be adopted. 

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