Crows Nest Fire Improved Presentation
- 1. Crows Nest Pass, Alberta
- 2. Crows Nest Fires On Aug. 2l, 2003, a random fire got out of control. What had begun as a seasonal wildfire abruptly changed direction and transformed into a giant out of control fire.
- 3. A 6 kilometer wall of flame reached 50 meters into the sky. The fire was suddenly whipping over the slopes, throwing off energy equivalent to an atomic explosion every 30 minutes.
- 4. Here’s how Ms. Elaine Hruby describes the day: “My husband was working that weekend up north in Fort McMurray. At 10 a.m. authorities told me to leave immediately, I didn’t know what to take. You start doing crazy things. After putting my cat and dog in the car, I grabbed the lamp my husband once used as a miner, my jewelry(but not his) and a little plastic Buddha. I then drove about 20 km west, along the valley, sat down on a rock ledge, 1,359-m-high, overlooking Crowsnest Pass and watched the flames veer down on Hillcrest. Despite my horror, I couldn’t stop looking because those flames were like a magnet. I felt masochistic, sitting on the outcropping.”
- 5. Statistics about Crows Nest Fire: • In 2003, the Crows Nest fire burned over 20,000 hectares of forest, affecting not only the timber industry, but also local businesses. • Tourism was hit hard, but other businesses like local dry cleaners, gas stations, restaurants and office services maintained a steady business. • Another business that benefited was Spray Lake Sawmills, they used a significant amount of the burnt lumber.
- 6. Information about Spray Lake Sawmills: • They have a 28% quota of the annual allowable salvage rights in the area and will salvage the lumber they can, so that it doesn't go to waste. • However, salvage efforts depend upon the amount of root scorch and the cost to pursue the salvage. For example, burnt bark is not always good, from a lumber perspective but de-barking the trees will keep the chips clean and reduce the carbon content.
- 7. Ecological Pros and Cons: • A burnt area is black and looks devoid of life but over time this area also creates diversity different than what was there before. • Large stands of timber, smooth the light and inhibit undergrowth. • A burnt area creates ecological diversity and allows for the development of rich undergrowth that wasn’t there before.
- 8. Forest after a fire New Growth
- 9. References: Crowsnest Mountain Photograph, Retrieved on September 19, 2009 http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj256/seasidelady52/CrowsNestPassBC.jpg Forest Fire Picture, Retrieved on October 15, 2009 http://allamericanpatriots.com Wall of Fire, Retrieved on September 19, 2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfcat_aus/434345516/ After the Fire Photograph, Retrieved on October 15, 2009 http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/09/firefighters_fe.html New Growth Photo, Retrieved on October 15, 2009 http://www.pacificbio.org/initiatives/fire/fire_effects-30mile/image16.jpg
- 10. References: Crowsnest Mountain Photograph, Retrieved on September 19, 2009 http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj256/seasidelady52/CrowsNestPassBC.jpg Forest Fire Picture, Retrieved on October 15, 2009 http://allamericanpatriots.com Wall of Fire, Retrieved on September 19, 2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfcat_aus/434345516/ After the Fire Photograph, Retrieved on October 15, 2009 http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/09/firefighters_fe.html New Growth Photo, Retrieved on October 15, 2009 http://www.pacificbio.org/initiatives/fire/fire_effects-30mile/image16.jpg
Editor's Notes
- #5: Masochist : someone who obtains pleasure from receiving punishment