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Thousands Flee Forest Fires In Western Canada
Ottawa (AFP) Jul 04, 2006 Some 4,000 people were forced late Monday to flee a raging forest fire that threatened to cut off their only access out of a small mining town in western Canada, according to officials. Residents of Tumbler Ridge in westernmost British Columbia province were ordered to leave their homes at 7:40 p.m. (0240 GMT Tuesday) as the blaze burned to within 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), provincial fire department spokeswoman Radha Fisher told AFP by telephone. Most headed to two nearby towns, she said. "The fire raced almost 16 kilometers in just four hours," Fisher said. "It was originally caused by lightning. The reason it's now so big is that conditions here are very dry." Overnight, the blaze grew to 18,500 acres (7,500 hectares) in size and crept to within 10 kilometers of the town, she said. Meanwhile, volunteer firefighters and aircraft have been flown in from eastern Canada to help fight 109 forest fires in Saskatchewan province that have displaced 1,800 people mostly in northern parts, according to reports.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links - Forest and Wild Fires - News, Science and Technology
Biscuit Fire Tests Forest Thinning And Prescribed Burning
Seattle WA (SPX) Mar 13, 2006A recently published study in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research indicates that fuel reduction treatments should simultaneously take place in the overstory, understory, and on the ground to adequately reduce fire severity. Thinning trees without treating surface fuels does not reduce mortality adequately because mortality can occur from hot fires on the ground, as well as fires that burn through the tree crowns. |
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