Forest Fire Facts and Questions

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Frequently asked questions about forest fires

Frequently asked questions about lightning

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General facts about forest fires in Canada

• The number and distribution of forest fires and area burned varies annually across Canada.
  
  
• Although fire statistics go back to the 1920s, Canadian statistics before 1970 are considered incomplete.
  
  
• Provincial and territorial fire agencies are responsible for fire-suppression activities.
  
  
• The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) provides operational fire-control services and links to all provincial and territorial fire agencies.
  
  
• Fire occurrence and area burned is highly variable
  • Area burned ranges from 0.7 million to 7.6 million ha/year.
  • Average area burned is 2.5 million ha/year.
  • Average fire occurrence is 8000 fires/year.
  • Average suppression costs are $300 million to $500 million annually.

• Lightning fires
  • Represent 45% of all fires.
  • Represent 81% of total area burned.
  • Occur in remote locations and often in multiple clusters.
    
    
• Human-caused fires
  • Occur in more populated areas and are usually reported quickly.
    
    
• Fire size
  • 3% of fires are greater than 200 ha.
  • Fires greater than 200 ha represent 97% of area burned.

Large Fire Database (LFDB)

• The LFDB is a collection of information about fires > 200 ha in size.
• The LFDB consists of point and polygon data sets.
• The LFDB is available for download.
  

Fire Suppression and Level of Protection

• Fire suppression is a provincial responsibility.
• The level of protection varies across Canada and within provinces.
• Key issues in the discussion of fire suppression and level of protection relate to the use natural fire versus the role of protecting the forest.
  

Boreal Fire Characteristics

• In the boreal forest, large fires dominate the area burned.
• Large fires are a natural and essential part of the boreal forest ecosystem.
• Large fires have played a major role in forming and maintaining the boreal forest.
• Large fires have high fuel consumption and rates of fire spread.
• Extremely high rates of sustained energy release are common.
• Towering convection columns can reach into the upper troposphere or stratosphere.
• Long-range smoke transport is an issue.
  

Circumboreal Fire Characteristics

• Boreal forest is located primarily in Canada, Russia, and Alaska.
• Annual area burned is 5 million to 15 million ha.
• Crown fires are typical in North America.
• Surface fires are typical in Russia.
• Fires are natural and essential to boreal ecosystems.
• Russian statistics are underestimated.
• Area burned shows great interannual variability.
• Key issues are continental climate, extreme weather, multiple ignitions.