FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Exclusive Book Signing at CBHC with author Jim Moran
June 2, 2010 - The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre (CBHC) will be hosting a special book signing event in promotion of author Jim Moran’s new book, “The Sentinel: A Wildfire Story.” The event will take place Friday, June 18 from noon to 3:00 pm at the CBHC.
“The Sentinel” is a work of fiction based upon actual strategies and tactics used by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for managing and responding to a wildfire. The story takes place in 2005 during one of Ontario’s worst fire seasons in recorded history, a season plagued by drought. A fast-moving cold front approaches Wawa, bringing with it the threat of severe thunderstorms and fire-starting lightning strikes. The Sentinel, a 300-year-old white pine on a ridge north of White River, stands watch over the forest. The tree witnesses the beginning of Wawa 43 – a large, complex wildfire that, over the course of the book, reaches over 80,000 hectares and lasts 34 days.
“The Sentinel” is a work of fiction based upon actual strategies and tactics used by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for managing and responding to a wildfire. The story takes place in 2005 during one of Ontario’s worst fire seasons in recorded history, a season plagued by drought. A fast-moving cold front approaches Wawa, bringing with it the threat of severe thunderstorms and fire-starting lightning strikes. The Sentinel, a 300-year-old white pine on a ridge north of White River, stands watch over the forest. The tree witnesses the beginning of Wawa 43 – a large, complex wildfire that, over the course of the book, reaches over 80,000 hectares and lasts 34 days.
Over the course of the book and through the perspectives of other key characters, the reader learns about how Ontario plans for and responds to wildfire. Aerial detection and attack methods, the operation of regional fire centres, the behaviour of a wildfire, and the resources and organization necessary to contain and suppress a blaze are examined in this story.
Jim Moran is an MNR retiree currently residing near Ottawa, Ontario. Through his 12 years in forest management and 17 years in fire management, he has been forest operations manager in Algonquin Park, fire management supervisor for the Sudbury area, a fire analyst for the East Fire Region, and a boss on several large project fires. In his role as a consultant, he has provided services including fire training to several government agencies.
Jim Moran is an MNR retiree currently residing near Ottawa, Ontario. Through his 12 years in forest management and 17 years in fire management, he has been forest operations manager in Algonquin Park, fire management supervisor for the Sudbury area, a fire analyst for the East Fire Region, and a boss on several large project fires. In his role as a consultant, he has provided services including fire training to several government agencies.
Admission is free to the book signing event. All are welcome.
The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre (CBHC) is a unique centre devoted to preserving the history of Bush Flying and Forest Protection in Canada. Volunteer members actively acquire, restore, preserve and display floatplanes, bushplanes, waterbombers, and forest firefighting equipment along with other aviation and forestry-related artifacts in order to celebrate the achievements of Canada's aviation and forest fire fighting pioneers. Thousands of people have had the pleasure of learning of the contribution of bush pilots and these machines to life in Northern Canada.
The CBHC is located at 50 Pim Street in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (www.bushplane.com). The Centre boasts one of Canada’s most intriguing collections of airplanes and artifacts, including the CF-OBS, the first production Beaver manufactured by de Havilland Canada. The Centre is open daily 9am to 6pm from mid-May to mid-October and from 10am to 4pm during the rest of the year.
For more information, contact: Miranda Bouchard, Marketing & Events Coordinator, at the CBHC, (705) 945-6242 or forestfire@bushplane.com.
