Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 07/05) - For the first time in recorded history, the Inuvik region did not experience a single forest fire this season, according to Mike Gravel, regional manager of forestry for Environment and Natural Resources.

"The region experienced the coldest July on record and above normal rain throughout the summer," he said.

"Since our fire hazard was low, we were able to send crews to other regions to assist with fires there."

Firefighters from the region were exported on three different occasions and the Fort McPherson crew travelled to Ontario.

Gravel believes that's the furthest east the NWT has ever sent crews.

For a region that typically has to deal with 20 to 25 blazes annually, this year's lack of fires and last season's eight fires were definitely not the norm.

"It's been well below average," said forestry officer Lawrence Lewis, who noted that five of the eight fires last year were caused by humans, the remainder by lightening strikes.

Besides the fact there were no naturally occurring fires in the region, Gravel was pleased his crews did not have to contend with the human element.

"Last year we had five human-caused fires, all of which were in or near communities," he said.

"Given that human-caused fires are preventable, we wish we could go every fire season without them."

While Inuvik and surrounding area did not have to contend with any fires, there were several occasions where smoke from blazes in the Yukon and Alaska blanketed the region.

"This reminds us of fire's constant presence in our Northern forests," said Gravel, adding that next year's fire situation could easily return to normal.

"Fires are a natural and necessary part of the forest, just as spring and summer come every year, so, too, do forest fires."