Dozens of Forest Fires Reported in Canada
8/31/99
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Title: Dozens of Forest Fires Reported in Canada
Source: XINHUA
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 31, 1999
OTTAWA (Aug. 31) XINHUA - As many as 42 fires are consuming forest
resources in Canada's central province of Manitoba, where more than
500 firefighters have been called in to tackle the blazes.
According to the Manitoba Natural Resources Department, the fires in
the northern part of the province were still burning Monday, with six
major fires raging out of control.
There have been no casualties since the first fire was reported last
Friday, but the fires are threatening to consume "prime forest-cutting
areas," the department said.
The largest blaze has burnt nearly 60 square kilometers of the forest
northeast of Flin Flon, while another has destroyed 40 square
kilometers northeast of Snow Lake.
The firefighters have used nine waterbombers, with the support of 28
helicopters and 12 other aircraft in attempts to bring the flames
under control, according to the department.
Meanwhile, seventeen fires were reported in Kenora, Dryden and Red
Lake in the western part of Ontario, but "nothing is threatening
communities, " the local fire information sources said Monday.
No reports have been released regarding the cause of the forest fires.