fire - ALBERTA

Question 1

When did it happen?

Answer 1

May 2016

Question 2

How many were evacuated from Fort McMurray?
(responses)

Answer 2

88,000

Question 3

How many hectares were burnt?

Answer 3

600,000

Question 4

Where did it occur?

Answer 4

Alberta Province, Canada. Near City of Fort McMurray

Question 5

were there casualties

Answer 5

none

Question 6

Wind (causes)

Answer 6

A shift in strong wind direction helped push the fire to the outskirts of Fort McMurray

Question 7

Embers (causes)

Answer 7

wind-carried embers showed ‘spotting’ and continued the fire in other locations

Question 8

what is ‘spotting’ from firebrands?

Answer 8

spotting ignites fires in patches, way before the fire front
> example of firebrands is embers

Question 9

environmental conditions (causes)

Answer 9

lack of snowfall and early snow melt warmer than average temperatures
=dry ground, unseasonably warm and dry month (32.8 degrees)

Question 10

what was the fire known as

Answer 10

the beast

Question 11

el nino effect (causes)

Answer 11

el nino caused warm and dry conditions and extended fire season

Question 12

ecosystem (impacts)

Answer 12

-scorched soil
-burnt trees
- soil nutrient stores depleted

Question 13

peat (impacts)

Answer 13

-dry peat soil susceptible to re-ignition

Question 14

CO2 (impacts, env)

Answer 14

released millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere
>also mercury and lead traces found in USA

Question 15

water pollution (impact)

Answer 15

large amounts of ash washed into the water courses and contaminated aquatic ecosystems

Question 16

buildings burnt (impact, social)

Answer 16

2,400 buildings burnt down

Question 17

anxiety (impact, social)

Answer 17

increases in behavioural anxiety about the future

Question 18

power/water (impacts, social)

Answer 18

power supplies restricted and water contaminated

Question 19

insurance on Fort McMurray (impact, economic)

Answer 19

insurance company suggested damage of $9 billion

Question 20

workers evacuation (impact, economic)

Answer 20

8,500 workers had to evacuate in the shell oil industry operations had to shut down causing a CA $1 billion impact

Question 21

mining industry (impacts,
economic)

Answer 21

-600 work camps destroyed (Albian Sands)
-Cost the industry $1bn

Question 22

political debate (impacts,
political)

Answer 22

fuelled a political debate about the impacts of climate change and increased vulnerability in the future

Question 23

recasting during (response)

Answer 23

meteorological info used to forecast the fire’s likely direction

Question 24

state of emergency (responses)

Answer 24

Alberta Province Government declared a state of emergency

Question 25

Services deployed (responses)

Answer 25

Canadian armed forces : Helicopters, Water bombers and firefighters
>USA, AUS, Russia all helped provide these

Question 26

money for dependants (responses)

Answer 26

government provided $1250 per adult for evacuees as long term compensations, criticism this wasn’t enough for people who lost businesses and livelihood

Question 27

Canadian Red Cross (responses)

Answer 27

Canadian Red Cross donations for over $50mil (CAN)

Question 28

presidential Promises (responses)

Answer 28

• Canadian president promised long-term aid in June
• Allowed evacuees to return back in and support rebuilding process

Question 29

What was held to raise money in June

Answer 29

A concert for ‘fire aid’

Question 30

Example of the positive feedback loop this caused

Answer 30

Increased temperature causes increased risk of wildfires

Question 31

What local infrastructure was destroyed

Answer 31

Major transport links such as railways, roads, local airports which were valuable to the local economy

Question 32

Cause of the wildfire

Answer 32

Precise cause unknown, climate conditions were favourable and the ENSP cycle, ladder effect

Question 33

was the short term response successful

Answer 33

Management was very successful as no deaths or serious injury

Question 34

What did the government set up online

Answer 34

a registry for temporary housing

Question 35

monitoring

Answer 35

drones with cameras and thermometers so they could track where it was going

Question 36

adaptation

Answer 36

fire adapted communities so they took
mitigation action so they live with wildfires without harm

Question 37

prediction

Answer 37

Fire modelling where and how quick a fire will spread

Question 38

protection

Answer 38

• back burning by control the fire near the rear
  -controlled burning
• Smokey bear to educate people what to do if a wildfire occurs

Question 39

where did the fire ignite

Answer 39

Remote forest areas south west of fort McMurray