Statistical quality control analysis of forest fire activity in Canada

Justin Podur, David L. Martell, and Keith Knight

QC 43

Abstract:

Statistical quality-control methods were used to detect significant changes in the mean and variance of the annual fire occurrence and area burned in Canada (1918–2000), Ontario (1917–2000), and northwestern Ontario (1917– 2000).

The quality-control chart method employed uses the first half of the record of a process as a baseline to test for significant changes in the mean or variance of the process in the second half of the record.

Significant increases were detected in annual area burned and in fire occurrence in Canada, Ontario, and northwestern Ontario.