Current as of :
|
Current active
fires: |
uncontrolled
19 |
controlled
493 |
modified response*
183 |
|
| |
2006
(to date) |
10-yr
avg
(to date) |
% Normal |
Prescribed* |
U.S. |
|
Number |
8,508 |
-- |
-- |
40 |
84,093 |
|
Area (ha) |
1,867,581 |
-- |
-- |
7,820 |
3,397,201 |
|
- For specific information on fire status and restrictions, contact appropriate agency listed under Fire Links.
- Check The Weather Network for Air Quality in your area
|
Wildfires in the News
Note:
This is the last weekly national report for this season. Current information continues to be made available through the various provincial and territorial agencies web sites which can be accessed through the "Fire Links" located in the left menu. |
Problem Fires:
- BC - 2 fires - one fire resulting from Washington state fire crossing the border; the other being actioned 1.5 km south of the BC border
- ON - 1 fire - Deer Lake residents evacuated due to smoke
Interagency Mobilization:
Canada remains at Level I and US remains at Level V. Some personnel have returned to Canada due to increased activity in some areas. Currently there are 2 aircraft mobilized to Ontario, 98 personnel mobilized to the US, and a variety of pumps and equipment in BC and Saskatchewan. Resources also continue to be deployed through the Northwest Border/Compact agreement.
Weekly Synopsis:
As expected, this week proved to a be more active than prior week with 442 fires burning 88,120 ha. BC and Ontario accounted for 69% of the new fires last week and Manitoba accounted for 88% of the weekly national area burned due to the satellite remapping of remote fires. As a result, Manitoba’s seasonal total for area burned is now above average. The number of active fires has increased 12%. The majority of the 695 fires still burning are located in BC (472). There are currently no fires burning in the Atlantic provinces. Last week also saw an above average amount of hotspot activity particularly in the last few days. The risk of crown fires is highest along the boreal ridge.
Nationally, fire danger has increased and is high to extreme across the southern regions of the western provinces into northwestern Ontario. Moderate to high fire danger levels extend up into the Northwest Territories and along a ridge that extends up into northern Quebec and into Newfoundland Labrador.
An additional challenge has occurred due to the extreme fire activity in the US northwest with the Tatoosh Complex fire crossing over into BC on September 3. This prompted an evacuation alert for nearby residents. Also, the US Tripod Complex fire may pose some challenges as it is burning approximately 1.5 km south of Osooyos near the BC border. Additional resources are preparing to be mobilized to assist in containing the fire. The progress of the fire continues to be monitored.
BC still has open fire bans for many of its Fire Centres, Ontario has imposed a restricted fire zone across the northwest region, and Alberta has a number of county and municipal fire bans in effect.
Prognosis:
With high fire behaviour indices and current fire activity, northwestern Ontario may experience an increase in resource requirements should the fire activity continue at the level seen over the past couple of weeks.
We are now moving into the part of the fire season where fires are mainly caused by human activity. With some areas of Canada having experienced prolonged and repeated dry periods, it is anticipated that fire bans may be required to help keep fire activity down for what is expected to be an active fall fire season for the western provinces and parts of Ontario and New Brunswick. Even without fire bans in effect, extreme caution should be used in forested areas where this prolonged affect as been experienced through the season.
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