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7975770
The Alberta Wildfire, 2016
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Great MindMap detailing the Alberta Wildfire of 2016
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geography
alberta
wildfires
as level
2016
case study
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alberta wildfire
alberta wildfire 2016
alberta wildfire map
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Mind Map by
Lauren Bradford
, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by
Lauren Bradford
almost 8 years ago
2004
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Resource summary
The Alberta Wildfire, 2016
'The Beast'
Canada, in a forest to the southwest of Fort McMurray
CAUSE
Unknown
Initially under control, but a shift in wind direction intensified fire
'Spotting' - wind carried burning embers to ignite fires ahead of fire front - harder to mitigate.
Jumped a one kilmetre river in places
Favourable environmental conditions
Lack of winter snowfall and an early snow melt
Warmer than average temperatures dried out ground
Temperatures soared late April, low humidity, tinder dry vegetation
Due to El Nino
Earlier springs in high latitudes could extend fire season
What made it worse once the fire started?
Temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, winds increased to supply oxygen
Fire created weather patterns - lightning led to more ignition
Positive Feedback
IMPACTS
SOCIAL
SHORT TERM
90,000 forced to evacuate
2400 homes and buildings burned down
Disrupted power supplies
LONG TERM
Movement in area restricted
Jobs/livelihoods affected
Anxiety over future
Contaminated water supplies
Environmental
SHORT TERM
Scorched soil and tree roots
Affected boreal forest ecosystem
Dry peaty soils could reignite any time until rainfall
Burned around 600,000 ha of land - size of Norfolk
Several millions of tonnes of CO2 released
LONG TERM
Huge quantities of waste - e.g rotting food from freezers, and toxic waste from fire - had to be disposed of
Ash washed into water course after rain - led to water pollution and contamination of aquatic wildlife
Toxins - mercury, lead, organic compounds - released from burning trees and debris - created air pollution as far as USA and Gulf Coast
Economic
SHORT TERM
A third of 25,000 workers in the nearby oil sands industry evacuated from work camps.
Production halted in north of Fort McMurray
Shell Canada temporarily shut down Albian Sands mining operation.
Airport transport affected
LONG TERM
Cost Shell Canada industry CAN$1 billion
Initial insurance estimates - CAN$9 billion damage
Possibly most costly Canadian disaster
POLITICAL
Fuelled debate over impacts of climate change and increased vulnerability in future
Gov. officials oversaw evac. programmes and liased with emergency services
Coordination of reconstruction programmes for infrastructure and services
Alberta gov. oversaw re entry of area
RESPONSES
SHORT TERM
15 miles 'no go zone' south of Fort McMurray
Careful monitoring of fire using ground and satellite data
Meteorological info used to forecast likely direction of fire's track
Emergency services mobilised and warnings issued, 90,000 evacuated
Aircraft evacuated some oil sands workers
Firefighters brought in from neighbouring states
90% infrastructure saved
State of emergency declared by Alberta gov. Triggered support from Canadian army
15 helicopters, 14 air tankers, air tractors - carried 800 to 1750 gallons of lake water
9 May - Red Cross received donations over CAN$50 million
LONG TERM
Federal gov. matched Red Cross donations
Gov. of Alberta provided CAN$1250 per adult and $500 per dependant to help evacuees cover living expenses
Nearby Edmonton created an online registry to help evacuees find accomodation.
June - evacuees could return
End of June - benefit concert 'Fire Aid' to raise money
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