alberta 2016 (wildfire)

Question 1

background of Alberta

Answer 1

• area experienced 12 month long drought before the fire. only 1.6 inches of rain had fallen by May.
• strong winds helped to dry the ground and fan the flames.
• fires began on may 1st but didn’t reach fort mcmurray until 3rd.
• exact cause for start is unknown but is widely thought to be human induced.

Question 2

effects

Answer 2

• $9 billion in damage done to fort mcmurray
• 2400 homes and buildings burnt down
• high levels of water pollution followed first heavy rain as ash and pollutants washed into water course.
• ecological damage affected species and wildlife.
• water lines lost and electricity cut off from some areas.
• several million tonnes of CO2 were realised by fire.

Question 3

responses

Answer 3

• 90,000 residents were evacuated.
• satellite readings were used to try and predict the fire route and enable fire fighters to extinguish the fire.
• government gave $500-1250 per dependant to families made homeless
• Red Cross gave $319 million to help those affected.