Forest Fire in Canada

Fire plays an important role in most forest ecosystems in Canada. As these ecosystems have evolved over the last 10,000-15,000 years (since the glacial retreat at the end of the last ice age), fire has helped to maintain their health and diversity. From a socio-economic perspective fire can, however, have negative or undesirable effects on public health and safety, property, and natural resources.

The challenge of managing fire in Canada is to find ways to effectively balance the positive ecological aspects of fire with the negative social and economic impacts.

The Government of Canada, through Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Forest Service (CFS), makes an important contribution to fire management in two ways.

First, the CFS has maintained an internationally recognized research program since the mid-1920s that has resulted in many innovations and new operational tools. Secondly, over the past two decades we have developed information systems that use advanced technologies (e.g., geographic information systems and remote sensing) to monitor and report on forest fire activity at a national scale.

These activities have resulted in Canada becoming a world leader in forest fire research and management and have contributed to the overall safety and well-being of Canadians and to the sustainability of our forests.