Trouble in the Pass:2003 Crowsnest Fire

Outline

• Situation Red: Facts• One Woman’s Story• Outcome:– Negative Effects– Positive Effects

• Future Implications: Ecological Benefits

Situation Red: Facts

• Seasonal fire out of control

• Fire changes direction, spreads– 6 km wall of flame

– 50 meters high

• Equivalent energy to atomic explosion every 30 minutes

• Burns 20,000 hectares of forest

One Woman’s Story

Resident: Elaine Hruby

• Requested to leave home at 10am• Minimal warning• Limited time to pack belongings• Recollection of experience

Outcome: Negative Effects

• Timber Industry

• Tourism

• Local Businesses

Outcome: Positive Effects

• Salvaging:– root scorch– cost

• Spray Lake Sawmills– 38% annual salvage rights

Future Implications: Ecological Benefits

• Debarking trees:– Keeps chips clean– Reduces carbon content

• Diversity over time:– Large timbers inhibit undergrowth– Rich undergrowth forms

Summary

• Fire:– destroys and rejuvenates– Impacts:

• communities• people’s lives• the environment

Questions

References

Title slide background image obtained from:[Tclcloud’s Photobucket Album]-Forest Fire [Online Image]. Retrieved September 20, 2009, from Photobucket.com.http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/tclcloud/forestfire.jpg

Subsequent background images obtained from:[Jumpinbean27’s Photobucket Album]- Fire Background [Online Image]. Retrieved September 20, 2009, from Photobucket.com.http://media.photobucket.com/image/fire%20background/jumpinbean27/fire20background.jpg