Fire season could be worse than average
Dry fall, low snow means fire season severity could depend on spring precipitation
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 16, 2017
DEH CHO
As the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gears up for the coming fire season, regional forests manager Loyal Letcher says he expects the season to be average or above average this year.
Two caterpillar bulldozers had to be left behind when a forest fire near Fort Providence got too close for the fire-crews operating them on July 18, 2014. Now the Department of Environment and Natural Resources says this wildfire season could be worse than average. Ultimately, it'll depend on how much rain we get between now and then. - photo courtesy of Earl Evans
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Snowfall in the past month has made up for some of the lack of precipitation throughout the winter, Letcher said. However, given the Deh Cho region had a dry fall as well, the best indicator of what to expect will come with spring precipitation.
"We had a bit of snow but I believe we're still on or below average," Letcher said.
"Even now, I'm still concerned."
Good spring rainfall would mean increased moisture in the deep duff levels, which are the layer of vegetation that covers the ground.
Letcher said the department will start conducting surveys at the end of March. The data from those surveys will help determine what the region's drought code will be going into the fire season.
"That gives us an idea of how dry the ground is," he said.
"Starting out with a high drought code is a red flag for us."
The drought code will be determined once the fire season begins.
Fire crews will come on strength as of May 8, starting the season off with seasonal training and their annual fitness test. Firefighters will be trained to a national standard so they can provide relief in other provinces and territories if need be.
For people who want to take matters into their own hands, the FireSmart program is a way to safeguard a property. Some of the suggestions for FireSmarting a property include removing certain trees and thinning vegetation.
Letcher said FireSmart increases the chances that a property will survive if a wildfire goes through.
"We're hoping to get the word out," he said, adding there is funding under FireSmart Canada for communities, which is matched by the GNWT.
He also encourages people to inform the department of any values that could be at risk if a fire goes through. That means cabins and other values.
2016 totals released
Last year, the Deh Cho region saw a total of 58 fires, with 25 of them monitored and 13 hit with a sustained attack from fire crews, meaning they were fought over multiple days.
In total, 485 square kilometres burned, although Letcher said that's just a small fraction of the 220,000 square kilometres within the Deh Cho region.
There were 28 fires in June and 25 in July, with four in August and one late fire in November. That fire smouldered under the snow near the Wildrose subdivision of Fort Simpson and was put out over the course of a few days.
Wildrose work continues
In 2016, Letcher said the Wildrose subdivision was an area of great concern for him due to the damage that could be done if a fire ever took hold there.
Over the last year, contractors for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources did some brushing around Wildrose, thinning out a 25-metre swath.
The goal now, Letcher said, is to get that up to 100 metres and finish brushing all the way around the subdivision.
"It's not really a fire guard, it's just fuel modification," Letcher said.
"If a crowning fire was coming in, the fuel modification would hopefully bring it down to a surface fire. That makes it easier to fight."
