Alberta Wildfire
- Created by: Meagp
- Created on: 13-03-19 10:37
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- Alberta Wildfire 2016
- Overview
- -May 2016 in Alberta Canada -caused evacuation of 90,000 people in Fort McMurray - destroyed 2400 homes+ businesses -Burned 6000,000ha of land -area the size of Norfolk
- Cause
- -happened in forested area in south west -cause remains unknow -was initially under control but shift in wind direction caused out of control blaze - was jumping across 1km river in places due to spotting
- Enviro condition - lack of winter snowfall+ early snow melt -warmer than av temps dried ground - first few days of fire exceeded 30 degrees C -caused its own weather patterns e.g. lightening which lead to more fires -links to El Nino effect and increased danger of wildfires
- Impacts
- Environment - severely effected boreal forest ecosystem due to scorched soil and burnt trees - dry and scorched peaty soils could reignite until rainfall - fire released several millions of tones of carbon in the air - Toxins inc Mercury released from trees caused air pollution all the way to the USA+ Gulf coast -ash washed into water after heavy rainfall, pollution, contamination of aquatic wildlife. -huge quantities of waste from debris and waste (freezers) lots was toxic
- Social -90,000 flee from Fort McMurray -2400 homes and other parts of town destroyed -jobs and livelihoods affected+ movement restricted - increased level of anxiety over future and further fires -power disrupted -water supplies contaminated so area suffered
- Political - debate about impacts of climate change and future vulnerability as fire season lengthened by early season melt - gov officials had to work with emergency services for evacuation -had to oversee re-entry to ensure safe -reconstruction programmes for buildings services and infrastructure needed to be coordinated
- Economic -insurance suggests CAN$9bill damage -1/3 of 25,000 workers in oil sands industry had to be evacuated from work camps, productions halted in North, Shell Can temp shut down, 600 work camp units destroyed in fire, cost ind CAN$1bill -transport effected including international airport
- Responses
- Short
- -Mass evacuation plan implemented which caused a lack of death, aircraft evacuated some oil sand workers - declared state of emergency so got help from armed forces inc helicopters, water bombs +firefighters from different states+ countries -
- Long
- - gave everyone CAN$1250 for living expenses and 500 more for dependants, by 9/05 Red Cross had received CAN$50 mil -residence allowed to return in June to begin clear up -Benefit concert in June to raise money -online register system for accommodation and landlords gave discounts for survivors
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