alberta wildfires

• Alberta located in Edmonton, Fort McMurray in Canada
• happened May 2016
• swept across parts of Canda's Alberta province
• 90,000 inhabitants had to evacuate
• causes of the wildfire

  • ignited in a remote forested area to the south west of Fort McMurray
  • result of human action - power line issues , careless ATV drivers
• initially the fire was under control but resulted into a blaze due to a shift in wind direction - tore into outskirts of Fort McMurray
• fire spread from south-west, fires erratic around town areas
• spotting occurred - 1km in some places
• environmental conditions at the time of the fire

  • wind speeds
  • intensity of fire created its own weather (lightening leading to more fires)
  • dry vegetation - lack of winter snowfall
• environmental impact

  • intensity of fire severely affected boreal forests ecosystem due to scorched soil and burned tree roots
  • released several tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
  • Toxins like mercury and lead were released into the air from burning trees and buildings - caused pollution as far away as Gulf Coast and USA
• social impact

  • 90,000 forced to flee
  • 2400 homes and buildings burned down in Fort McMurray
  • jobs and livelihood were affected
  • power supplies were disrupted
  • increased levels of anxiety about future
• economic impact

  • cost $9 billion
  • transport in region seriously affected e.g Edmonton International Airport
  • 1/3 of 2500 workers in nearby oil sands industry had to be evacuated from work camps
• political impact

  • reconstruction programmes for buildings , services and infrastructure needed to be co-ordinated
  • fire fuelled political debate for possible impacts about climate change and increased vulnerability - fire season may be lengthened by early spring melt
• what happened at the end of June 2016?

  benefit concert called 'Fire Aid' took place in Edmonton to raise money for those affected by the disaster
• how were some of the oil-sand workers able to evacuate from the fires?

  aircraft could evacuate them
• what services were brought into the area from neighbouring states?

  helicopters , water bombers and firefighters
• which 3 countries offered support to Canada?

  Usa , Russia and Australia
• what was established in nearby Edmonton to help evacuees?

  an online registry supported by the local government and business organisations

  • created to help evacuees find accommodation
  • landlords offered reduced rates
• how much in donations did the Red Cross receive by the 9th May?

  $50 million