🌋Case Study - Alberta 2016 Flashcards
How did the climate encourage the start of the wildfire?
Dry conditions and strong winds with low humidity
El Nino caused high temperatures
How much rainfall was seen in Fort McMurray?
41.3mm between January and April, 60% of average
Why did below average precipitation lead to dry vegetation?
Less precipitation meant less snowpack and therefore dry vegetations
What was the highest temperature seen in Fort McMurray?
33 degrees C
How fast were winds?
22mph
How many people were evacuated?
80,000
How were people physically affected?
Visibility was low due to smoke and people developed breathing difficulties
How was the sense of community impacted?
People’s homes were destroyed, affecting communities
How many homes were destroyed in Fort McMurray?
1600
What percentage of all structures were destroyed?
15%
Why were jobs put at risk?
Operations on oil sands were shut down
How many were housed in the University of Calgary while the blaze was tackled?
2600
How were basic water supplies affected?
Firefighters had to use untreated water to tackle the blaze, so supplies were contaminated
How was the countries economy affected?
Major oil production was shut down, so exports slowed
How many major oil companies suspended operations?
9
How much was production of oil cut down by?
1 million barrels a day. 1/3 of Canada’s output
How many residents were out of work?
90,000
How much was lost in real GDP?
$985 million
Why was the fire likely to smoulder for months?
Because there is thick peat in the area, which can allow it to keep burning
How much CO2 was emitted?
Millions of tonnes, particularly from burning peat
How were rivers and lakes affected?
The ash polluted them
How far was smoke from the fires able to travel?
3400km to the US Gulf Coast
How long were people without electricity for?
More than 14 days
What did the fire fuel politically?
A debate on the possible impacts of climate change
What was used to evacuate oil sands workers?
Aircraft including helicopters
What did the Alberta government declare?
A state of emergency
Which countries responded with aid?
US, Russia and Australia with helicopters, water-bombers and firefighters
How much did the Canadian government provide to evacuees per adult?
$1250
How much did the Canadian government provide to evacuees per dependant?
$500
How much was collected by the Red Cross in aid?
$50 million
What was ‘Thunder the Great’?
A gerbil used to help children who had been psychologically affected by the fire
What did Justin Trudeau promise to the area?
Long term aid to help the rebuilding of Fort McMurray
Where did the fire start?
A remote forested area to the south-west of Fort McMurray
When did the fire start?
1st May 2016
When did the fire meet the community of Fort McMurray?
3rd May 2016
Cause: Give 3 reasons why the ground was dry
Lack of winter snowfall
Early snowmelt
Warmer than average temperatures
Cause: Give 2 reasons why vegetation was dry
April temperatures were high
Low humidity
Cause: What was the exact cause of the fire?
It’s unknown- likely to be human induced
Cause: Why did the fire become out of control?
Due to a shift in the wind direction- resulting in the blaze turning northwards towards Fort McMurray
Cause: What caused fires to ignite in front of the main fire, even jumping a 1km river?
Spotting (wind carrying burning embers)
P.E.: How many killed?
0
P.E.: What percentage of homes in Fort McMurray were destroyed?
15%
P.E.: What fraction of oil workers were evacuated?
1/3
S.E.: What were homes left without?
Basic services- electricity and water
S.E.: Why did mains water have to be boiled?
As untreated water was allowed into pipes so firefighters could put out the fires
S.E.: Transport links were effected, including the nearby…
Airport
P.E.: How many major oil companies suspended operations? Example company?
9, including Suncor
P.E.: How many barrels of oil were lost per day?
1.2 million for 14 days
S.E.: Give one reason for Canada’s poor economic outlook in 2016
Lost oil royalties
S.E.: Why did world oil prices rise briefly? When did they stabilise?
. As the fire could of hit the heart of the oil patch
. Stabilised after the fire missed the heart of the oil patch
S.E.: How much will rebuilding add to Alberta’s economy?
$1.3 billion
S.E.: What were the debates about in government?
Possible impacts on climate change
P.E.: Where did toxic smoke containing mercury come from?
Burning buildings and petrol stations
S.E.: What’s the problem with all the toxic ash left?
No one knows how to dispose of it
S.E.: Parts of the peat could reignite at any time until…
There’s heavy rainfall
S.E.: What will take a long time to recover?
Ecosystems
Scorched tree roots and soil
I.R.: Give 3 ways the fire was monitored
Using satellites
Meteorological data
Ground data
I.R.: Give an example of a satellite that was used
Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership Satellite
I.R.: Give 3 reasons why the fire was monitored
Forecast fires’ track
Issue warnings
Emergency services mobilised
I.R.: Why was ash sampling conducted from the 12th May?
Determine if it was a risk to public health
See if it could be disposed of in land fill
I.R.: How many ash samples were taken from across Fort McMurray?
What substances were they looking for?
136, looking for asbestos and petroleum hyrdocarbons
I.R.: Give 3 examples of things the Canadian Red Cross did?
Set up 13 call centres
Registered evacuated people
Provided 2,800 hygiene kits across Fort McMurray
I.R.: How many firefighters sent from Canada, USA and South Africa firefighters?
1,000
I.R.: Why was the Alberta Wildfire Info Facebook page set up?
To share information about evacuation- speeding up the process
Help find temporary accommodation
L.R.: What percentage of Canadian Red Cross donations were spent on future planning and preparation?
1.5%
L.R.: How many jobs are expected to be created in construction?
9,000
L.R.: What should help boost consumer spending?
Insurance claims being given out
L.R.: How much did the Canadian Red Cross give to small businesses?
$6million
L.R.: What did the Canadian Red Cross give to small businesses that was more important than money?
Professional help and advice
L.R.: When did residents start to return to their homes?
Early June
L.R.: When did Fire Aid take place?
29th June
L.R.: How much did Fire Aid raise?
Over $2 million
L.R.: Where did the money raised by Fire Aid go?
United Way of Fort McMurray’s Fire Recovery Funding Program
L.R.: F.A.- What’s the Support Through Housing Team?
Life skills program preparing people for the future
L.R.: F.A.- What’s the Salvation Army Community Centre?
Stores + distributes donated goods to those who need them most
