FireSmart Questions and Facts - Fire Management Facts

Fire History

Did you know?

• In 1991, 2,560 fires burned 320 sq. km. of forest land. Over 2,400 of these fires were in the intensive protection zone and total fire losses were kept below 50 sq. km. on these fires. The remaining fires were in the far north where efforts were successful but mainly directed at the protection of life and property.
• Before human intervention, fire controlled the age-class distribution of the forest stands themselves, with natural fire intervals ranging from 20 years in the northwest part of the province, to 75 years through the pine forests of Quetico and Algonquin and over 100 years in parts of north-eastern Ontario. Now it is estimated at over 560 years with current fire control activities.
• Ontario operates a fleet of 9 CL415's and 5 Twin Otter water bomber aircraft which can pick up water from a lake and drop on a fire 6,130 or 2,000 litres respectively.
• To deliver an effective fire suppression program the MNR employs 200 three and four person Fire Ranger crews located at 25 strategically located fire headquarters and attack bases across the province. If required, they can be supported by an additional 150 fire crews from the private sector and fire crews from other provinces and territories across Canada.
• Ontario maintains enough equipment and supplies to accommodate up to 5,500 people in the bush and at the fires. This includes 1,300 large canvas tents, 1,200 gas power pumps and enough fire hose to stretch from Toronto to Windsor four times.
• Ontario’s Forest Fire Management Strategy balances the protection of human values from fire with the positive effects of fire as a tool to meet resource management objectives. This means the fire management program will move aggressively in suppressing fires that threaten human values, but will manage or use fire in other situations to achieve ecological objectives, or to reduce costs or hazards.

Facts About Fire

How many weather stations does MNR operate in Ontario?

The MNR operates 117 weather stations across the province. The province also manages a lightning location system which can track and record all lightning activity 24 hours a day throughout the fire season. Weather is the most important factor in predicting the number of fires that may start or how fires will act on a given day.

How far did the 16-twin engine aircraft fly patrols in 1991?

The 16 twin-engine aircraft used by the province to locate and report forest fires flew patrols totalling 1.1 million km., or 28 times around the world in 1991.

What is the main resource the fire management program uses in combating fires?

Ontario is blessed with over 1/4 million lakes and its fire management program is designed around the use of water to control and extinguish forest fires.

How many staff work full time for the Fire Management Program and how many staff work during the fire season?

To plan, coordinate and deliver the overall fire management program in Ontario requires a full-time staff of nearly 200 people. During the fire season, this can grow into the thousands depending on the number and severity of the fires.

Where is the regional and provincial response centres located?

Two regional fire centres are located in Dryden and Sudbury. One provincial response centre is located in Sault Ste. Marie. They plan and direct the detection, prevention and control of the forest fire problem.

How many hectares does the Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario provide fire management?

The Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario provides strategic direction for fire management on 107 million hectares of Crown and private lands that comprise the province.

The Fire Strategy organizes the province into how many fire management zones? Can you name them?

The Fire Strategy divides the province into six fire management zones:

1. Southern Ontario
2. Parks
3. Great Lakes/St. Lawrence
4. Boreal
5. Northern Boreal and;
6. Hudson Bay

Each of the six fire management zones and their associated level of protection are based on similarities in eco-regions, land use and resource management objectives, values at risk and fire occurrence patterns.