Canadian Forestry Journal, November, ipi5. 



259 



FIRE LOSS FOR 1915— $10,000,000. 



The Dominion of Canada suffered 

 a loss of fully $10,000,000 through 

 forest fires during 1915. 



It is obvious that destruction of 

 such dimensions cannot continue in- 

 definitely. New growth does not 

 ■equal more than a minor portion of 

 the amount abandoned to smoke nor 

 do the iniquitous effects of the 1915 

 fires do not end with an estimate of 

 ten millions of cash. The burned 

 areas of this j^ear too often mean a 

 second fire in a few months or years 

 with the ultimate vicious conse- 

 quences to the productivity of the 

 soil and the ruin of young growth 

 and seed trees. It is fair to say, 

 therefore, that the estimated ten 

 million dollars loss set down for 

 1915 is only the beginning of the bill 

 chalked against the country. 



That ten thousand forest fires oc- 

 cur every year in Canada, or over 

 1,400 a month between snow and 

 snow, is an estimate based upon ac- 

 tual figures for the various prov- 

 inces. Some of these fires are small 

 and do little harm. Others denude 

 large areas of magnificent growth. 



Statistics regarding forest fire 

 losses in Canada are complete only 

 in relation to localities. So long as 

 some of the provinces compile no 

 estimate of their forest destruction 

 annually, the total for the country 

 may only be approximated. It is an 

 unfortunate habit of some of those 

 responsible for forest guarding to 

 make their announcements in pleas- 

 ant generalities, giving the public 

 the idea that forest protection is 

 amply looked after by perfected fire 

 ranging systems, and requires no 

 further public agitation and no radi- 

 cal housecleaning of official atti- 

 tudes. 



An Indictment of Neglect. 

 The plain fact is that a ten-million 

 dollar annual loss in standing timber 

 and young growth makes an excel- 



lent testimony to the half-thorough- 

 ness of forest protection organiza- 

 tions in any and every part of Can- 

 ada. No one will dispute that 

 Quebec and British Columbia have 

 made remarkable progress in build- 

 ing up forest-guarding systems, ap- 

 pointing conscientious overseers, 

 and striking at the evil from every 

 angle within their reach, but the 

 fresh strength required for further 

 rapid progress must to a large ex- 

 tent come from an awakened public. 

 No minister, however determined, 

 can plan and spend very far ahead 

 of Public Opinion. And one must 

 admit, in considering the forest, 

 legislation and administration of 

 Ontario, Quebec and British Colum- 

 bia, etc., that the departments deal- 

 ing with forest matters in those 

 provinces have proceeded probably 

 faster than public sentiment urged. 

 In the formation and stimulation of 

 that public sentiment on forest mat- 

 ters lies the chief duty of the Can- 

 adian Forestry Association. 



A telegraphic despatch, dated 

 Quebec, and appearing in many 

 newspapers, makes the following 

 statement : 



"Throughout the Dominion last 

 summer forest fires caused losses 

 valued at no less than $9,536,867. 

 The loss by forest fires is consider- 

 ably lower this year than it was pre- 

 viously. Quebec province during 

 the eight first months of 1915 lost 

 through forest fires $2,254,115, 

 which is a good deal lower than the 

 losses in Ontario, where, although 

 the forest areas are considerably 

 smaller than Quebec's, the losses by 

 fire reach the figure of $3,694,823. 

 British Columbia, with its vast for- 

 ests, only lost $913,125, due largely 

 to its forest fire-fighting organiza- 

 tion. The small loss by forest fires 

 in Quebec province is attributed to 

 the protective measures employed 



