1. Wildfire Detection Workshop March 25/26 Cliff Henderson FERIC Forest Protection Division

2. Forest Protection Business Plan Goal: Protect Alberta’s forests and forest communities by preventing and suppressing wildfires Objectives: Detection – Rapidly detect and promptly report all wildfires occurring within the Forest Protection Area

3. Alberta’s Firefighting Priorities 1.Life 2.Communities 3.Watersheds/Soils 4.Natural Resources 5.Infrastructure

4. Detection Systems Used

5. Detection Performance Measures 1)Detect Wildfires at 0.1 Hectares or Less in Size FPD Target = 85% Results: 2002 = Lookouts 94%, Air 90% 2)Detect Reported Wildfires within 5 Minutes of Discovery FPD Target = 90% Results: 2002 = Lookouts 97%, Air 100%

6. Detection Systems Over the Years

8. Early Aircraft - 1922

9. On Patrol

10. The Rivers

11. AB Wildfire Detection Stats Fixed Detection System 131 Lookouts (oldest structure 52 yrs old) 108 Steel Towers (most 100 ft high) 23 Mountain Cabins

12. Tower Service

13. Original Towers

14. Mountain Towers Cline Lookout Torrens Lookout Falls Lookout

15. Other Duties  Radio Communications  Weather Stations

16. Future Detection Very High Priority  One of the key elements of FP Program  An effective detection system is critical to meet FPD IA/suppression goals and objectives

17. High Elevation Detection