Hazards CS (wildfires 'the beast')

Question 1

when did ‘the beast’ begin?

Answer 1

1 may 2016

Question 2

where did ‘the beast’ begin?

Answer 2

Alberta province, Canada

Question 3

how many people were evacuated from Fort McMurray?

Answer 3

90,000

Question 4

how many homes and businesses were destroyed?

Answer 4

2400

Question 5

how many deaths?

Answer 5

0

Question 6

how many Ha of land were burned?

Answer 6

60,000

Question 7

where was the ignition of the fire?

Answer 7

remote forest area SW of Fort McMurray

Question 8

what was the cause of the fire?

Answer 8

unknown.

Question 9

what was the control of the fire like?

Answer 9

initially the fire was under control, but shift in wind resulted in the blaze that tore into outskirts of fort McMurray (largest settlement in Alberta)

Question 10

what was the development of the fire?

Answer 10

4th may advanced from SW, now erratic fires which shows effect of ‘spotting’ (wind carrying ember)

Question 11

what was fighting the fire like?

Answer 11

hard to tackle due to spread of fire being erratic & fire jumped over 1km river

Question 12

how much of the city was saved?

Answer 12

85%

Question 13

what was the conditions of the forest like for igniting a fire?

Answer 13

the conditions were favourable

• warmer av temp
• low humidity, veg/ ground became tinder dry
• may temp ^30 degrees
• intensity of fire created own weather conditions including lightning= more fires (positive feedback rare)

Question 14

what was 4 environmental impacts of the wildfire?

Answer 14

• dry peaty soil could reignite at any time
• toxins (mercury) organic compounds released from burning trees
• ash washed into water
• ecosystem effected

Question 15

what are the social Impacts of the fire? 4

Answer 15

• 90,000 forced flee
• 2400 homes lost
• power supply disrupted
• anxious about future

Question 16

what are the economic impacts of the fire? 3

Answer 16

• $9 bn Can of damage
• 1/3 of 25000 workers in oil sands evacuated so production stopped
• fire cost oil industry $1bn Cana

Question 17

what were the political impacts of the wildfire? 3

Answer 17

• climate change debates
• gov oversaw evacuation programmes
• oversee and phased re-entry

Question 18

was the fire El Niño and if so why?

Answer 18

yes

unusually dry and early spring conditions= climate change?

Question 19

what were 5 responses to the wildfire?

Answer 19

• Gov declared state of emergency= support form armed forces, helicopters, fire bombers brought into area
• Gov supported evacuees by providing $1250 per adult
• 9th may Can redcross received $50 mil Can
• June residents allowed back fort mcmurray
• end of June 2016 benefit concert ‘fire aid’ took place in Edmonton to raise money for those effected by disaster