DEH CHO - If the current trend continues officials say that this fire season in the Deh Cho will set new all time lows for fire numbers.

As of July 6, there have only been two fires in the region covering a total of 1.60 hectares. The official fire season lasts from May 1 to Sept. 30.

Last July, forest fire 10 in the Deh Cho spread from covering one to 50 hectares. In comparison this year, forest fires have effected only 1.60 hectares in the region. - NNSL file photo

"This has been pitiful. I think we'll have a record year in low numbers," said Daniel Allaire, a forest officer in Fort Simpson.

In the 32 fire seasons Allaire has worked in the Deh Cho he can't recall any with only two fires by early July. At this point last year their had been six fires in the region, a number that Allaire said is also well below the average.

In a fire season, the Deh Cho used to average between 60 to 70 fires. In the past 10 years the average has dropped to around 40, he said.

Since 1978 the lowest number of fires in a season was eight recorded in 1997 followed closely by nine in 2002. Highs include 135 fires in 1994 and 132 fires in 1989.

The rain that fell steadily between June 29 to July 3 around Fort Simpson provided another damper for the season.

"It's quite saturated out there," he said.

Allaire estimated that it would take at least a week of warm, dry weather before there are any fire hazards. Lightning strikes causes the majority of fires in the region, about 90 per cent. There are very few man-made fires, he said.

Of the two fires this year the one outside of Fort Liard in May was caused by humans while the other southwest of Fort Simpson was started by lightning. Both fires were suppressed.

A low number of fires may seem like a good thing but it's disappointing for the people around the region on seasonal and contract fire crews, said Allaire. There are six crews in the region including two in Fort Liard, two in Fort Simpson, one in Wrigley and one in Trout Lake. Kakisa and Fort Providence are in the South Slave region.

One fire crew has seen some serious action this summer. A five person crew from Fort Liard along three division supervisors, Allaire, Wesley Pellissey and Michael Tsetso, were sent to Alberta for 16 days June 15 to 30.

"It was great for some of us who got exported," Allaire said.

The crew started on a fire north of Lac La Biche that covered 312 hectares. It was a high priority fire because it was only 700 metres from one of the two highways leading out of Fort McMurray. The other highway had already been closed due to the fires, said Allaire.

The crew also helped on a fire northwest of Manning on the B.C. border. Crews had been fighting the 3,300 hectare fire a few days. Work focused on controlling the perimeter and extinguishing the hot spots, Allaire said.

"Before we left there wasn't much left there," he said.

Both Allaire and Michael Tsetso, a forest fire technician from Fort Simpson, agree that it was nice to see some action.