Alberta Wildfires case study

Question 1

What date did the wildfire start? and where?

Answer 1

1st May 2016- southwest of Alberta Canada

Question 2

What happened on the 3rd of May- 2 days after the wildfire started?

Answer 2

• the largest evacuation in Alberta history- up to 88,000 forced from their homes

Question 3

What date was the fire declared “under control”? and how many hectares had it spread by this point?

Answer 3

• 5th July 2016
• had spread 590,000 ha

Question 4

On what date was the fire declared fully extinguished?

Answer 4

August 2nd 2017

Question 5

What is the suspected cause of the Albert’s wildfire?

Answer 5

Human cause- this still remains unknown

Question 6

Name 3 contributing factors to the cause of the fire

Answer 6

1. Environmental conditions were extremely favourable prior
2. Lack of winter snowfall caused an earlier snowmelt in spring-> average temperature increases causing the land to dry
3. Late april- increase in temperature and a decrease in humidity- vegetation became dry

Question 7

How many homes and buildings did it destroy?

Answer 7

2400

Question 8

How many people died or were directly injured?

Answer 8

none

Question 9

In total how many hectares of land were burned?

Answer 9

600,000

Question 10

Give 3 other short term effects

Answer 10

• power distrusted
• Water supplies contaminated- untreated water was introduced into the municipal water supply to assist fire fighters
• transport seriously affected at nearby international airport

Question 11

What is the total estimated damage cost?

Answer 11

$9.9 billion
the costliest disaster in canadian history

Question 12

Give two other long term effects

Answer 12

1. severely affected boreal forests- soil was scorched, burned tree roots
2. shell canada had to temporarily shut down mining operations- estimated to have cost the industry 1 billion

Question 13

How many of the workers at the nearby oil sands industry were evacuated by aircraft?

Answer 13

1/3rd of the 25,000 workers

Question 14

What percentage of Fort mcmurray was saved by firefighters?

Answer 14

85%

Question 15

Give 4 short term responses

Answer 15

1. meteorological info was used to forecast the likely direction of the fires track- fire issues were warned
2. A state of emergency triggered supported from Canadian armed forces
3. Helicopters, water bombers and firefighters were bought into the area from various states and offers to help from USA, AUS, Russia
4. Online registry supported by local government was created to help evacuees find accommodation

Question 16

Give 4 long term responses

Answer 16

1. Many landlords offered reduced rates to evacuees
2. Albert’s government provided $1250 per adult, $500 per child to help cover living expenses
3. June 2016- a benefit concert “Fire Aid” took place in Edmonton to raise money for those affected
4. Reconstruction programs for buildings services and infrastructure were coordinated