Alberta 2016 - wildfires

When were the alberta wildfires?

1st - 6th may 2016

Where were the 2016 alberta wildfires?

Fort Mcmurray area, spreading across southern alberta

What conditions happened that allowed the fires to start?

- 30 degree c temperatures throughout late april and early may

- These warm temperatures left the ground and vegetation dried out

- El Nino climatic cycle causing dry weather

- The fires themselves caused lightning which started more fires

Primary effects of the 2016 alberta wildfires

- 80% of the beacon hill area destroyed

- No deaths

- More than 50% of local vegetation burned to a moderate or severe level

Secondary effects of the 2016 alberta wildfires

- Closure of the airports due to smoke producing poor landing and takeoff conditions.

Immediate responses of the 2016 alberta wildfires

- Province declared a state of emergency

- 250 firefighters and 12 helicopters deployed

- Red Cross assisting with initial 10,000 evacuees

- Local authorities advising ad warning to evacuate or close doors and windows

- 90,000 evacuated in total

Long-term responses to the 2016 alberta wildfires

- Increased the fine for breaking fire bans from $5000 to $100,000

- Government matched all red cross donations

- Fire aid concert with 30,000 attendees, raising $2 million.

- Small business hotline established to grant financial aid and to help keep local economies alive

- Government provided $1250 to each resident of the affected areas

How large was the fire?

- 220,000 ha

Factors that contributed to the spread of the 2016 alberta wildfires

- Shifting winds allowed the fire to spread through firebrands (jumped a 1km river)

- Fueled by dry tinder

- Unseasonably warm weather and low humidity

- generated lightning which started its own fires

- El Nino

- Climate change