Government acknowledges 100th anniversary of forest fire patrol

Ed Byrne, Minister of Natural Resources, acknowledged a historic milestone today on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of a structured forest firefighting effort in the province.

While the role of forest firefighters and the manner in which they fight forest fires has undergone significant changes over the past century, Minister Byrne said the critical role those individuals continue to play in protecting the province�s valuable forest resource has not changed.

�The protection of our forest resource through our forest fire suppression program is a vital component of our province�s overall forest ecosystem management strategy,� said Minster Byrne.

�We are fortunate to have a highly-skilled and professional team of forest firefighters who are dedicated to protecting the general public, personal property and our outdoor resources,� said Minister Byrne. �Anyone who has had their own safety or property threatened by wildfire are fully aware of the valuable service provided by our forest firefighters. History has taught us that we must always remain vigilant against the threat posed by wildfires.�

The fire season of 1961, when 265,000 hectares of forest were destroyed by fire, acted as a real eye opener for the government of the day and resulted in a significant upgrade of the province�s forest fire fighting capacity. To assist with the effort of front-line forest firefighters, government purchased two water bombers, three aircraft and a helicopter. In addition, improvements were made by improving weather forecasting systems, establishing a forest fire index system and updating communication equipment.

Today the province has 109 seasonal forest firefighting staff along with seven permanent staff positions employed as part of the forest fire suppression program. They operate out of 24 forest fire depots strategically located throughout the province. In addition, the province operates six CL-215 water bombers, a Cessna spotter aircraft and has four Bell 206L helicopters at its disposal.

According to Minister Byrne, government has been actively working over the past several years to enhance the province�s forest firefighting management capability.

�The Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Service in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada and their provincial and territorial counterparts are participating in the development of a Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy [CWFS],� said Minister Byrne. �The strategy will aim to increase public safety from wildfire, enhance the health and productivity of our forests and improve the effectiveness, efficiency and adaptability of wildland fire management organizations.�

Minister Byrne also praised the efforts of the Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Protection Association and the Newfoundland and Labrador Wildfire Fighters Association as both organizations play a key role in promoting forest fire prevention and continue to support the need for efficient and effective fire suppression services.

�While there are instances where forest fires are started by natural events, human activity in our forests is also a contributing factor,� said Minister Byrne. �I encourage all users to exercise caution when taking advantage of our natural environment.�

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-5282, 685-4624

2005 09 01                        2:05 p.m.