1. Winter / Conifer Browning & Associated Potential Fire Hazard in Northwestern Ontario, 2012 Prepared by AFFES May 17, 2012

2. Suspected Cause Unseasonably warm temperatures and strong winds in march combined with frozen soil dried out existing foliage. Trees are not dead Not drought related New foliage will likely grow green and healthy

3. Extent and Severity Extensive between Thunder Bay and Nipigon districts. Reported elsewhere in Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Fort Frances districts Forest Health undergoing mapping Damage ranges from extensive in Pj regen. blocks to scattered in the understory of mature poplar stands

4. Degree and Severity of Damage Species affected include jack pine, black spruce, white spruce, balsam fir and tamarack Mostly affected trees < 25 years old Varying degrees of damage (e.g., lower portions or very small trees undamaged) Spruce already shedding damaged foliage. Pine and fir retaining browned foliage

5. Examples of Fuels Affected

9. Fire Behaviour Risk Some Fire Behaviour risks include increases in: Ignition Potential Fuel Loading Fire Intensity – longer flame length Volume of fine fuel- more spot fires Rate of fire spread. Combined, these factors may increase the risk of erratic fire behaviour

10. Fire Behaviour Prediction Until such time as we have documented fire behaviour in this fuel condition, the following Fire Behaviour Prediction (FBP) “benchmark” fuel types should be used when predicting fire behaviour in winter or conifer browned stands. All winter browning in conifer fuels < 2.0 m will be considered: O1A – Matted grass 100% cured All winter browning in conifer fuels 2.0 – 5.0 m will be considered: M3 – Mixedwood, leafless (30, 60 or 100% dead or brown)

11. Documentation Due to a lack of information in regard to fire behaviour in this fuel condition. “Winter or Conifer Browning” will be included as a category in the Guide to Completing the Report of Fires in Weather Damaged Fuels. Both the report and directions are available on the Fire Board. Completion of the report will be mandatory for all fires occurring in this fuel condition, so as to increase our fire behaviour knowledge in this fuel condition.

12. Information For more information contact al.oconnor@ontario.ca