A seasonal wildfire in Crowsnest, Alberta abruptly changed direction on August 21, 2003, growing into a massive fire with flames reaching 50 meters high. A resident was evacuated and watched the large flames from 20 km away. The 2003 Crowsnest fire burned over 20,000 hectares, impacting the timber industry and some local businesses, though others maintained steady business. One sawmill benefited by salvaging lumber. The fire created long term ecological effects, both limiting undergrowth in large forests but introducing new diversity as the burned area regrew.