Wildfires Flashcards
Give three types of fire
Ground fire - small smouldering slow fire
Surface fire - leaf litter and low lying vegetation
Crown fire - fire moves rapidly through the canopy
Describe vegetation conditions that would favour a wildfire
Thick undergrowth closely spaced trees
Eucalyptus produce oils that burn easily
Give examples of how the type of fuel may exaggerste a wildfire
Fine dry material
Firebands - some plants will split and throw out flammable material
Describe how previous weather conditions will lead to a forest fire
Enough rain for vegetative to become dense but still very dry
What two types of causes are there of wildfires?
Natural - lightening or volcanic eruptions
Human - cigarettes, arson, campfires
Give some longer term responses to a wildfire
Better public education
Emergency plans
Promotion of non flammable materials
What year did the alberta wildfire occur in?
2016
What were the impacts of the Alberta wildfire?
Social 90,000 evaucated 2400 homes destroyed Economic $ 9 billion dollars of damage to city of fort McMurray, largely because of losses in oil industry ( global impact = oil prices rose)
Environmental
Aquatic life damaged, biodiversity reduced
Toxic pollution e.g. Mercury contamination e.g. In rivers
What was the total area of land burnt by the 2016 alberta wildfire?
600,000
Describe the positive feedback loop that occurred in the Alberta wildifre?
Fire = change in climactic conditions that favour lightning
Lightning strikes = more fire
Describe the short term responses to the Alberta wildfire
Evacuation
Usa and russian firefighters helped
Describe the longer term responses to the Alberta wildfire
$1250 given to adults to cope with living costs
$18 million spent on counselling to help cope with stress
A buy local scheme - promote local businesses
