. Canadian forest industries January-June 1920. Lumbering; Forests and forestry; Forest products; Wood-pulp industry; Wood-using industries. G6 CANADA LUMBERMAN AND WOODWORKER February 15, 1'j20 Forest Fires Have Raged in Alberta Carelessness is Blamed for Majority of Them—Good Protection Work of the Forestry Branch While forest fire losses in Alberta last year aggregate $2,250,- 000, they would have been far greater but for the Dominion Forestry Branch and its officials and employees. The last big fire previously occurred in 1910, when much more damage was done for the reason that there was n
. Canadian forest industries January-June 1920. Lumbering; Forests and forestry; Forest products; Wood-pulp industry; Wood-using industries. G6 CANADA LUMBERMAN AND WOODWORKER February 15, 1'j20 Forest Fires Have Raged in Alberta Carelessness is Blamed for Majority of Them—Good Protection Work of the Forestry Branch While forest fire losses in Alberta last year aggregate $2,250,- 000, they would have been far greater but for the Dominion Forestry Branch and its officials and employees. The last big fire previously occurred in 1910, when much more damage was done for the reason that there was no preventive nor fire fighting service. In that year the fires swept from below the in- ternational boundary far into the north along practically the entire slope of the Eastern Rockies. As there was no regular organization to combat the flames, the sporadic efforts of the settlers were almost useelss. Two years later when the Forestry Branch had been estab- lished a different system prevailed and since then until 1919, forest fires' damage was comparatively light. In 1918, for instance, it was only $1,000 in the Alberta reserves. Last year conditions were altogether against the fire fighting and preventive forces. The long drought left the woods dry as tinder, and high winds, which persisted for weeks at a stretch, fanned the flames beyond control. It was the experience in every instance that the forestry department officials and employees were on the ground of a fire within a few hours, usually less than four, of the time it was reported, and often they would not get away for days so bitter was the struggle. Five hundred and forty-eight thousand acres were swept over and the loss in merchantable timber has been estimated officially as being $500,000. Young timber was damaged to the extent of $1, 000, and other growth $400,000. The causes of the fires were given as follows: Camp fires, 7; lightning, 4; hunters, 3; railways, 12; tourists, 1; logging mills. 2; unknown, 16
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