Canadian forestry journal 



Vol.. XI. Ottawa, Canada, Jink, I'JIJ. " No. 



Forest Fire Situation 



Prompt Action of Rangers in Organized Parts of the Timber 

 Country has Averted Serious Danger 



For a time in the early part of June, the siuklcn outbreak of foi-cst fires in 

 many parts of Ontario and (Quebec threatened to upset the earlier calculations 

 for a summer season of small losses. Fairly heavy rains following the period 

 of unbroken heat relieved the situation temporarily, and at the time of poiiio; to 

 press (June 15) reports received by the editor from many (|uai-ters indicate 

 a cessation of fires without, thus far, many excessive losses of valuable timber. 



It is a striking fact, however, that all these reports speak of the threaten- 

 ing character of the fire outbreaks and the probability of heavy damage had not 

 qualified rangers l)een on hand to miinmize tlie destruction. Particularly was 

 this true of the territory patrolled by the St. ]\Iaurice Valley Forest Protective 

 A.ssociation, under ]\Ir. Henry Sorgius' management, and the Lower Ottawa 

 Forest Protective Association under direction of ]\Ir. Arthur E. Graham. The 

 evidence of the location and fierceness of some of tlie June bla/.es proves plainly 

 enough tiiat lacking the fire rangers the members of tliese nuitual l)odies would 

 have been heavy losers. Both these associations possess an efficient personnel 

 and good equipment. 



Reports from Xew Brunswick mention persistent and damaging fires 

 wiiich have taxed the vigilance of all responsil)l(; for forest i)rotection. Not a 

 little of this is said to be due to careless ])ui"ning of slash by settlers who ai)par- 

 ently selected the driest and most perilous season in wiiich to .set their bonfires 

 going. Friends of forest preservation have strongly urged the application 

 of the permit system which has had a good effect in British Columbia. 



In Ontario, a newspaper report from Cochrane speaks of "heavy losses 

 having been sustained along the line of the Tran.scontinental Railway during 

 the past Week (June Id by forest fires. The fires raged for a distance of fully 

 70 miles along the railway between Cochrane and Kapuska.sing. At the latter 

 place, where several hundred prisoners of war are detained, fire for a time 

 wriously threatened the cam]). The prisoners were orderly and no trouble 

 ensued, they themselves joining in the fire fighting." 



In the Prairie Provinces the early spring made conditions dangerous for 

 fire. In Alberta rain came frequently enough to keep down the fires, but in 

 Manitoba and Saskatchewan there were a innnber of fires that threatened 

 serious damage. By the exertions of the fire i-anging staff and by fortunate 

 showers of rain all of these fires have now been extinguished though not with- 

 out the loss of some valuable timber. There .should now be no further serious 

 danger until the fall. 



