Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

The human side of Alberta’s catastrophic wildfire

“The fire is moving in a southwesterly direction, at last report,” wildfire information officer Matthew Anderson told reporters on Thursday morning, noting that the shifting winds are creating an ever-changing and volatile situation.

Hot, dry, windy weather has made the massive Ft. McMurray wildfire all but impossible to control. Not only is it a danger to residents in the surrounding region, but to those firefighters trying to contain the blaze. Because of the instability of the situation, the province declared a state of emergency Wednesday,

The fire  which had been contained until Monday south of Fort McMurray  was pushed toward the city b...

The fire, which had been contained until Monday south of Fort McMurray, was pushed toward the city by winds of 50 kilometers per hour and quickly reached homes, helped by a drought in Alberta
Lynn Daina, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Department/AFP


While temperatures hit 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees F.) on Wednesday, it was forecast to reach a high of 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees F) today, along with a 30 percent chance of rain. The average temperature for this time of year is only 15 degrees Celsius, so it is still warmer than normal.

Canada has a fire intensity system to grade fires, with a Class 6 being the highest level. Many of the blazes around Ft. McMurray are at this level. While there have been no casualties reported from the wildfire itself, there were fatalities from at least one vehicle crash along the evacuation route, according to Reuters.

Was wildfire caused by humans?
The magnitude of the fire, its closeness to the city, and the fact that data shows there were no lightning strikes in the area has led Mike Flanagan, a professor of wildland fires at the University of Alberta to suggest that the fire was started by humans, CTV News Canada is reporting.

Illustration: All residents of the Canadian city of Fort McMurray have been ordered to leave town as...

Illustration: All residents of the Canadian city of Fort McMurray have been ordered to leave town as fire sweeps through the oil sands region
Kevork Djansezian, Getty/AFP/File


Talking to reporters, Flanagan said on average, Alberta has about 1,200 wildfires every year. Half are caused by humans and 47 percent are attributed to lightning strikes. “And in spring it’s heavily loaded on the side of people-caused fires,” Flanagan said.

And we can’t forget that weather conditions in Western Canada have been perfect for fires as a warm dry winter has left forests with an abundance of dry leaves and dead wood. “It’s really extreme conditions,” Flanagan said, citing the low humidity and lack of green vegetation, combined with windy conditions that increased the intensity of the fire.

Shifting conditions creating fear among evacuees
Last night, due to shifting winds, officials with the Rural Municipality of Wood Buffalo ordered the evacuation of Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, and Fort McMurray First Nation. Buses began taking evacuees to Edmonton, 440 kilometers away.

Forced to leave  residents hurry to find a way out of the city.

Forced to leave, residents hurry to find a way out of the city.
YouTube


Of particular concern is the plight of evacuees that were forced to travel north after the only route south was overtaken by the smoke and fire. This forced thousands of people to flee north toward oil-sands facilities and the few scattered settlements around, leaving no route out.

Many of those people tweeted the regional government, asking when they would be able to drive south, and whether areas north of the city were safe. “We haven’t forgotten about you and you’re safe,” said the government on Twitter.

In this stressful and dangerous time, let’s not forget our families, friends and neighbors. Look after each other, and stay safe.

Avatar photo
Written By

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

You may also like:

Business

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier was reviewing recent incidents and would redouble safety initiatives as needed - Copyright AFP Logan CyrusUnited...

World

US President Joe Biden speaks during a reception honoring Women's History Month at the White House - Copyright AFP Brendan SMIALOWSKIDanny KEMPUS President Joe...

Business

A Milei marks 100 days in office, thousands protest his austerity measures - Copyright AFP Luis ROBAYOLeila MACORArgentina’s President Javier Milei has slashed public...

Life

The Michelin Guide unveiled its annual list of the best French restaurants, praising the "cultural dynamism" of a new generation of chefs.