Provincial Perspective
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services reports that the 2010 provincial forest fire season that ended on October 31, recorded significantly more fires than 2009 with a smaller, overall area affected. Season highlights included: the 125th anniversary of FireRangers; out of province assistance to five other jurisdictions; completion of a helicopter fleet renewal program; successful launch of a new forest fire reporting number; and, co-hosting of the inaugural biennial Wildland Fire Canada conference.
The amount and distribution of cool, wet weather helped reduce the chance of human-caused fires spreading and conditions also reduced the chance of ignition from lightning strikes.
The total number of fires in the 2009 season was 384, burning 20,656 hectares of land. The 2008 forest fire season in Ontario had 341 fires burning 1,316 hectares.
The ten year averages for the number of forest fires and area affected in Ontario is 1,087 fires and 76,021 hectares.
On average, the aviation and fire management program expends approximately $119 million per year. Every year is different as a result of variability in fire occurrence and fire behaviour. Fire operating expenditures have ranged from $65 to $175 million annually over the past ten years. The 2010 fire operational spending is approximately $99.7 million, higher than the 2009 spending of approximately $92 million due to the increased number of forest fires.
Out of province assistance was provided during the 2010 forest fire season to support Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and, most extensively, British Columbia.
While support to BC was about half of the effort of the 2009 season, it was still an extensive contribution of staff and equipment from late July until early September and the third largest out of province effort in Ontario’s history.
Approximately 750 staff participated and the person days total was around 10,000 (1,000 staff and 21,000 person days in 2009). 2010 BC fire photos/maps.
As an emergency fire response resource for Ontario, as well as other provinces in Canada and the United States, the ministry is prepared to respond immediately to protect people, property and industrial values. This requires maintaining a highly trained workforce and ongoing research and development to constantly improve fire response techniques and equipment. The forest fire response system in Ontario is designed to expand and scale back according to the fire danger so it is always operating in an efficient manner.
Aviation Services concluded its helicopter fleet renewal program in 2010 with acceptance of the final of seven Eurocopter EC130 helicopters, used during the season in forest fire management.
During the 2010 forest fire season, Ontario FireRangers marked their 125th year of service to the province. In 1885 Ontario introduced a team of dedicated staff ready to serve and protect people, their property and the province’s forests. This group started with 37 trained professionals and has grown to over 800 forest fire fighters (FireRangers) serving at over 30 locations across Ontario.
The services provided by Ontario FireRangers ensure our forests as well as values in and near them, are protected for generations to come.
Watch Premier McGuinty's video message to FireRangers and learn more here about Ontario FireRangers 125 years of service.
A new forest fire reporting number was introduced in 2010, 310-FIRE (3473).
In 2010, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services co-hosted with Natural Resources Canada, the inaugural biennial Wildland Fire Canada conference, an event focussed on forest fire management in Canada.
The unique program provided a forum for presentations from forest fire managers and the scientific community. Fire managers to exchanged best practices with other fire managers and communicated emerging needs and issues to scientists, while at the same time scientists had opportunity to present new research and models directly to forest fire managers, as well as other scientists from a number of disciplines. wildlandfirecanada.ca
Preparations are underway for the 2011 forest fire season with equipment repair and aircraft maintenance as well as staff training and upgrading.
