Canadian Fires Hit Mills, Loggers, Big Acreage

What’s being called Canada’s worst-ever spring fire season has torched 9.9 million acres as mills and loggers across the country take extensive downtime as thousands have been evacuated and drifting smoke has blanketed the Northeast U.S.

Blazes have affected forest operations in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec and forced downtime at dozens of facilities and restricted timber harvesting activities, say officials with the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). For example, Resolute Forest Products closed four Quebec sawmills temporarily, and Chantiers Chibougamau was forced to temporarily shut its Nordic Kraft pulp mill in Lebel-sur-Quevillon, Quebec.

A recent Reuters news story noted that the closures have affected lumber prices, since Canada is the world’s second-largest softwood lumber producer and reported that Chicago lumber futures for July delivery have climbed 7% since June 1.