Fires Blaze Out of Control in Canadian Wilderness
8/31/99
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Title: Fires blaze out of control in wilderness
Source: Reuters
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 31, 1999
Byline: Irene Marushko
WINNIPEG, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Out-of-control forest fires raged
across remote parts of Canada's western Manitoba on Tuesday,
clear of populated regions but destroying prime timber-cutting
A statement from the province said of the 42 fires currently burning
out of control, including the fire of 6,000 hectares in the far
northeast of the province.
``It has been a very unusual year, conditions are unusual for this
of year,'' provincial spokeswoman Diana Soroka told Reuters as
fire-fighting crews fought three fires ignited by lightning last
A spokeswoman for neighbouring said there were 25 active fires
burning in the northern part of province, including two being
extinguished by water bombers.
``The precipitation in the last 24 hours has brought the hazard down
a day or so,'' fire intelligence officer Susan Reany-Iskra said.
Soroka said recent cloudy in Manitoba were also helping to
contain blazes. She said recent dry conditions and wind had created
conditions for the blazes to start.
Forest fires during summertime are common occurence in Canada, a vast
country where trees far outnumber people.