Wildfire Prevention Week
WILDFIRE PREVENTION WEEK: APRIL
18 TO 24, 2010
"Wildfires Cost You!
Wildfire Prevention Week was April 18 to 24, 2010 and this year’s theme, “Wildfires Cost You”, was aimed at raising awareness of wildfire costs and potential devastating effects.
In Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) responds to an average of 1,350 wildfires per year, including both lightning and human caused fires. Over the past 5 years municipal fire agencies have responded to an average of 4085 wildfires per year within their municipalities across Ontario.
The cost of putting out wildfires is ultimately borne by the taxpayers of Ontario, and it can add up quickly. Considering the costs of outfitting firefighters with appropriate protective clothing, specialized gear and equipment, and aircraft, which can cost up to $8,500.00 per hour, wildfire suppression costs can escalate as quickly as the fires themselves. The real costs associated with wildfires go well beyond the actual dollars required to combat them. The highest associated risk with any wildland fire is to human life and personal property, however, wildfires also result in the loss of forest values, habitat and resources, as well as recreational opportunities.
Approximately half of wildland fires are human caused fires. These are of particular concern as they are preventable. Many of these fires are the result of careless burning practices and failure to properly control and extinguish campfires, grass and brush fires.
As increasing numbers of people live and recreate in the great outdoors, the risk of preventable wildfires and potential for loss of property and life needs to be addressed by fire agencies and fire departments. FireSmart is a program that includes both prevention and mitigation principles to help reduce the risk of wildfires fires and to help protect properties from the devastating effects of wildland fires.
MNR, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs and the Office of the Fire Marshal are encouraging fire departments to get involved in promoting FireSmart principles in your community for the prevention and mitigation of wildfires during Wildfire Prevention Week and throughout the fire season.
Contact and work with your local MNR Fire Management Headquarters or, in southern Ontario, your local MNR Fire Advisor to help raise awareness about wildfire prevention and being FireSmart.
For contact information: Look under “Contact Us” on the MNR website at: www.ontario.ca/fireprevention
It’s everyone’s responsibility to act responsibly to prevent wildfires.
| Title | HTML | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera-ready picture, which can be used to make a road sign or poster (to download the road sign, right-click on the image in the HTML version and save the picture as a jpg file) | English | Français | English | Français |
| Campfire information sheet with statistics and safety tips | English | Français | English | Français |
| Home maintenance checklist | English | English | Français | |
| FireSmart brochure | English | Français | English | Français |
| FireSmart Homeowners Manual | English | English | Français | |
| Lesson plan for elementary school teachers | English | English | Français | |
| Lesson plan for fire departments | English | Français | English | Français |
| Long article for publication in newspapers | English | Français | English | Français |
| Print media public service announcement | English | Français | English | Français |
| Safe campfire lesson plan | English | Français | English | Français |
| Short article for publication in newspapers | English | Français | English | Français |
