Case Study:Alberta Wildfire 2016
When?: May 2016
Where?: Alberta province, Canada.
Causes: Ignited in a remote forest area SW of Fort McMurray on the
1st of May 2016. A shift in wind direction meant that the controlled
fire spread to the outskirts of Fort McMurray; the largest settlement in
the remote part of Alberta. On the 4th of May the fire front advanced
from the SW, with erratic fires in and around Fort McMurray;
illustrating the effect of spotting. (Spotting: Wind-Carried burning
embers ignite fires ahead of the fire front.) Firefighters faced problems containing the blaze as it continued to
spread, jumping a 1km river.
Prior to the fire, environmental conditions added to the fuel of the fire; the lack of snowfall and early snow
melted in Spring combined with warmer temperatures than average causing the ground to dry out. In late April
temperatures soared combining with the low humidity made vegetation drier. In the first few days of May, after
the fire began temperatures exceeded 30 degrees and winds increased. The intensity of the fire created new
weather patterns, such as lightning, leading to the ignition of other fires.
El Niño: Climate scientists linked this to the fire as it resulted in the dry, warm, early spring conditions. Links to
climate change are apparent as an increase in fires has occurred in recent decades however, some climate
change scenarios suggest earlier springs in high latitudes could extend the fire season and thereby increase
the wildfire hazard.
Impacts:
Environmental Social Economic Political
600 000 hectares of land 90 000 people evacuated Insurance company Reconstruction
was destroyed / burned. from Fort McMurray. estimated an initial $9 programmes for buildings,
million of damage. services + infrastructure
needed to be put together
Boreal forest ecosystem 2400 homes and Transport in region was Alberta government had
affected from burned businesses were affected and the nearby to oversee phased + safe
soils and tree roots. destroyed. international airport. re-entry.
Toxins such as Mercury, Water supplies became ⅓ of 25000 workers in Fire fuelled debates about
lead and organic contaminated as nearby oil sands industry possible impacts of
compounds were untreated water was were evacuated. climate change and
released from burning deliberately introduced Production was halted in increased vulnerability in
trees and buildings into the municipal water the N of Fort McMurray- the future. The fire
created air pollution and supply to assist Shell Canada temporarily season may be
possible contamination firefighters. shut Albian Sands Op. 600 lengthened by early
as far away as the USA work camps were spring melts.
and Gulf Coast. destroyed, industry lost an
estimated $1 billion.
Dry and scorched peaty Power supplies and Destruction of businesses Government officials had
soils could reignite until a communications were caused damage to local to oversee evacuation
time of heavy rainfall. disrupted. economy. programmes and liaise
with the emergency
services implementing
plans.
When?: May 2016
Where?: Alberta province, Canada.
Causes: Ignited in a remote forest area SW of Fort McMurray on the
1st of May 2016. A shift in wind direction meant that the controlled
fire spread to the outskirts of Fort McMurray; the largest settlement in
the remote part of Alberta. On the 4th of May the fire front advanced
from the SW, with erratic fires in and around Fort McMurray;
illustrating the effect of spotting. (Spotting: Wind-Carried burning
embers ignite fires ahead of the fire front.) Firefighters faced problems containing the blaze as it continued to
spread, jumping a 1km river.
Prior to the fire, environmental conditions added to the fuel of the fire; the lack of snowfall and early snow
melted in Spring combined with warmer temperatures than average causing the ground to dry out. In late April
temperatures soared combining with the low humidity made vegetation drier. In the first few days of May, after
the fire began temperatures exceeded 30 degrees and winds increased. The intensity of the fire created new
weather patterns, such as lightning, leading to the ignition of other fires.
El Niño: Climate scientists linked this to the fire as it resulted in the dry, warm, early spring conditions. Links to
climate change are apparent as an increase in fires has occurred in recent decades however, some climate
change scenarios suggest earlier springs in high latitudes could extend the fire season and thereby increase
the wildfire hazard.
Impacts:
Environmental Social Economic Political
600 000 hectares of land 90 000 people evacuated Insurance company Reconstruction
was destroyed / burned. from Fort McMurray. estimated an initial $9 programmes for buildings,
million of damage. services + infrastructure
needed to be put together
Boreal forest ecosystem 2400 homes and Transport in region was Alberta government had
affected from burned businesses were affected and the nearby to oversee phased + safe
soils and tree roots. destroyed. international airport. re-entry.
Toxins such as Mercury, Water supplies became ⅓ of 25000 workers in Fire fuelled debates about
lead and organic contaminated as nearby oil sands industry possible impacts of
compounds were untreated water was were evacuated. climate change and
released from burning deliberately introduced Production was halted in increased vulnerability in
trees and buildings into the municipal water the N of Fort McMurray- the future. The fire
created air pollution and supply to assist Shell Canada temporarily season may be
possible contamination firefighters. shut Albian Sands Op. 600 lengthened by early
as far away as the USA work camps were spring melts.
and Gulf Coast. destroyed, industry lost an
estimated $1 billion.
Dry and scorched peaty Power supplies and Destruction of businesses Government officials had
soils could reignite until a communications were caused damage to local to oversee evacuation
time of heavy rainfall. disrupted. economy. programmes and liaise
with the emergency
services implementing
plans.
