Case study: the Alberta wildfire, 2016

Question 1

Where did it take place?

Answer 1

Canada, Alberta province

Question 2

When did it take place?

Answer 2

May 2016

Question 3

How many evacuees where there?

Answer 3

90,000

Question 4

How many homes were destroyed?

Answer 4

2,400

Question 5

How many deaths and injuries?

Answer 5

0

Question 6

How much land was burned?

Answer 6

600,000 hectares

Question 7

What percentage of the city was destroyed?

Answer 7

15%

Question 8

Describe the spread of the fire?

Answer 8

• initially under control
• shift in wind direction led to the blaze leaving the outskirts of Fort Mc Murray
• the fire front advanced from the SW and lots of spotting occured when the wind carried embers in front of the fire front

Question 9

How wide was the river that the fire jumped?

Answer 9

1km

Question 10

What was the favorable conditions that caused this fire?

Answer 10

• average temperatures dried out the ground
• temperatures in April soared
• low humidity
• vegetation was dry

Question 11

What was the positive feedback of this fire?

Answer 11

the intensity of the fire created its own weather patterns

Question 12

Give an environmental impact of the fire.

Answer 12

• released tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
• ash washed into water courses and led to water pollution

Question 13

Give a social impact of the fire.

Answer 13

-90,000 forced to leave Fort McMurray
- jobs and livelihoods affected
- power supplies were disrupted

Question 14

Give an economic impact of the fire.

Answer 14

• $9 billion worth of damage in Fort McMurray
• Transportation including nearby international airport was affected

Question 15

Give a political factor of the fire.

Answer 15

• fueled political debates about climate change
• government has to oversee evacuation programs