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.
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Safety is the primary driver of the increased implementation of winch-assist logging systems, and the main reason the technology will be part of the steep slope landscape going forward. Jobs like manual falling and choker setting in steep conditions are two big reasons logging is one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S., and doing more cutting from the safety of a cab and choker setting in cleaner conditions are a definite step in the right direction…
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