3.1.5.6 Fires In Nature

Question 1

When was the Alberta wildfire?

Answer 1

1st May-5th July 2016

Question 2

Where was the Alberta wildfire?

Answer 2

Canada

Question 3

Social impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 3

2,400 homes and business destroyed
90,000 residents evacuated
Power supplies disrupted

Question 4

Economic impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 4

$9 billion damage to Fort Mcmurray
GDP of Alberta dropped to a negative value
Global price of oil affected
Costliest natural disaster in human history

Question 5

Environmental impacts of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 5

600,000 hectares of land burnt
Millions of tonnes of CO2 released into the atmosphere
500 species lost their habitat

Question 6

Short term human responses in Alberta

Answer 6

Govt. declares a state of emergency and implement emergency operations
News coverage and social media used for updates
Shelters and food were offered to evacuess to meet their basic needs
Alberta Health services provided mental health support

Question 7

Long term responses for the Alberta wildfires

Answer 7

The government of Alberta set up an air and water quality monitoring programme
Long term temporary shelters
Public trnasport links repaired and put to use to encourage people to move about and stimulate economic development
Three governmental disaster programmes designed : FireSmart, Flood mitigation, disaster preparedness
“FirstAid” benefit concert held at the end of June to raise money for those affected

Question 8

How long did the Alberta wildfire last for?

Answer 8

Two months

Question 9

How many residents had to evacuate and for how long?

Alberta

Answer 9

90,000

For almost a year

Question 10

Which cit suffered $9billion of damage as a result of the wildfire?

Answer 10

Fort McMurray

Question 11

How many hectares of forest were destroyed as a result of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 11

Thousands

Question 12

How much did the fire cost the oil sands industry?

Answer 12

$1 billion (canadian dollars)

Question 13

How many hectares of land were burned?

Answer 13

600,000

Question 14

How did the wildfire of Alberta affect the water and carbon cycles?

Answer 14

Millions of tonnes of CO2 addded to the atmosphere

Mercury, lead and ash contaminated water supplies

Question 15

Identify a positive feedback loop created by the wildfires

Answer 15

The fire triggerred lightning storms, which ignited more fires

Question 16

What was done to help protect longer term health of residents in canada

Answer 16

An air and water quality programme was set up by the government

Question 17

What was the cost of mental health and stress support for the year? Alberta

Answer 17

$18million

Question 18

How many people were killed by the wildfire?

Answer 18

None

Question 19

How many homes were destroyed in the Alberta wildfires

Answer 19

2,400

Question 20

Fort McMurray was a centre for which industry?

Answer 20

Oil sands

Question 21

Identify a global impact of the Alberta wildfire

Answer 21

Global oil prices rose as there was a shortage of supply

Question 22

What caused toxic air pollution in the Alberta wildfires

Answer 22

Burning cars, factories and buildings

Question 23

What helped stimulate economic growth and recovery in the area after the wildfire?

Answer 23

Transport links repaires
Buy local campaign inhtroduced
Money donated to the Red Cross was granted to small businesses

Question 24

What is a wildfire?

Answer 24

An uncontrolled rural fire

Question 25

Where are two locations that have been at risk recently of wildfires?

Answer 25

Oklahoma - USA - severe drought
Sydney - southern suburbs
Both april 2018

Question 26

What conditions lead to wildfires?

Answer 26

Arid ground after/during drought and a significant dry period of time
Cyclical climatic events like El Niño cause favourable conditions by affecting global temperatured and rainfall patterns
Large quantities of dry fuels

Question 27

What are some natural causes of wildfires?

Answer 27

Lightning
Heat transfer heats vegetation ahead of the flames
Wind blowing burning fragments ahead igniting new areas of forest

Question 28

What are some human causes of wildfires?

Answer 28

Discarded cigarettes
Arson
Poorly controlled campfires and disposable barbecues

Question 29

What are the three types of wildfire that can be present at the same time?

Answer 29

Ground fire
Surface fire
Crown fire

Question 30

What is ground fire?

Answer 30

Slow, smouldering ground base fire

No flame

Question 31

What is surface fire?

Answer 31

The burning of leaf litter and low lying vegetation

Can be high or low intensity

Question 32

What is crown fire?

Answer 32

Moves rapidly through the canopy/ top lauer of vegetation

Has the most dramatic effect on forested areas

Question 33

Why were no lives lost in the Alberta wildfires?

Answer 33

Large evacuation
Huge emergency response
News and social media used to regulary update residents

Question 34

Why were economic costs so great?

Answer 34

Due to huge loss of the oil industry, 51% of the population were employed there and weren’t able to work for a long period of time