Forest Devastation 



37 



fires, but only once saw a tree shattered by lightning and 

 left smouldering after the storm had passed. It is more 

 than likely that many of the fires attributed to lightning 

 were really caused by other means. The fact that fires 

 follow in the wake of man is sufficient indication that he is 

 the cause, they the result. 



Spontaneous combustion is not impossible, but is so 

 rare that it need not be seriously regarded as the cause of 

 many fires. 



The following report of the Dominion Forestry Branch 

 shows the origin of fires reported during 1916 : 



"The number of fires reported in detail during the year was 

 1455, of which 1 1 12 were small fires, and 343 large fires, cover- 

 ing over ten acres each. The total area burned over was 905,828 

 'acres and the quantity of timber destroyed 223,908,000 feet, 

 board measure, and of smaller-sized trees 2,415,921 cords. 

 These totals do not include fires along the Hudson Bay Rail- 

 way line or fires in the most northern parts cf Manitoba, Sas- 

 katchewan, and Alberta in regard to which detailed reports 

 were not received." 



The causes of fires were as follows : 



