The 2009 forest fire season is now officially closed, and it will go down as one of the quietest fire seasons on record.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reports that this region saw 194 fires this year, which is an all-time low. That compares with 218 in 2008, in what was also considered to be a very moderate fire season.
But the damage done by fires this year was much higher.
Forest fires destroyed about 13,934 hectares of forest land, while about average with years before, was up substantially from the 1,215 destroyed in 2008.
The low level of activity also allowed the MNR to lend support elsewhere.
A large number of personnel, as well as equipment and aerial support, were loaned to other jurisdictions throughout the summer.
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