On May 3, 2016, the population of 88,000 living in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada was evacuated due to a major wildfire. Spring snowmelt is occurring increasingly early in the year, and Canada now has a longer fire season than ever before. This is not unusual. Trees quickly ignite in Fort McMurray on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. There’s also the simple fact that lighting Fort McMurray on fire isn’t as easy as it looks. Despite their best efforts, by 6 p.m. — just two hours after it was found — it had ballooned to 60 hectares. Slave Lake Coun. Burning questions, such as how the fire started and why it was so powerful, remain unanswered. Dominating the news right now is the Fort McMurray wildfire, which began May 1 and has now burned more than 565,000 acres (California's Rim Fire was only 257,000 acres, and New York City is about 300,000 acres, for perspective ). An unusually intense May wildfire roared into Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, on Tuesday, forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in province history. Evacuations from Fort McMurray. This contributes to more extensive and intense fires. Climate change reduces the amount of precipitation, leading to droughts and extremely dry soil and vegetation. the Fort McMurray wildland/urban interface fire disaster By Alan Westhaver, M.Sc. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. As it raged out of control across northern Alberta and burst into Fort McMurray with unparalleled … The municipality warns residents in the Beacon Hill and Gregoire neighbourhoods to be prepared to leave on short notice. Half the houses in Abasand burned. In addition, just four-hundredths of an inch of precipitation had fallen April 14-May3, 2016. The next day, heading north on the highway, Feldstein got word that a certification course in fire restoration, geared to the upcoming clean up in Fort Mac, was starting in Edmonton the very next day. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Seen just after they started, on the left is the MMD-004 fire … We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. On May 3, the temperature climbed to 32.8 °C (91 °F), accompa… Fort McMurray reports 66 active cases and two cases in the rural hamlets. Investigators say the huge fire that destroyed a Fort McMurray condo complex under construction started when machinery struck a gas line. But, the effects are not felt evenly across the globe. It is located in northeast Alberta, in the middle of the Athabasca oil sands, surrounded by boreal forest. But, whilst the initial spark is yet to be identified, the factors that set the scene for Canada’s most expensive disaster are evident. March 2017. About… Thirteen trailers were destroyed in Timberlea. Within 24 hours, however, Mr. Schmitte was confirming that the fire had jumped the Athabasca, threatening the neighbourhoods on the north bank of the river bisecting Fort McMurray. Humans are the leading cause of wildfires in Canada and likely caused the Fort McMurray fire, says a forest fire expert Mike Flanagan. Wood Buffalo’s emergency measures department says the south-end fire is moving east and tells people in the Centennial Park Campground, on the west side of Highway 63, to leave their trailers. An emergency was initially declared on 1 May at 9:57 p.m. with a mandatory evacuation. Assistant deputy chief Jody Butz said a soil stabilization mixer tore a 15-centimetre gas line, releasing gas into the air before also hitting the building’s main power, telephone and cable lines – causing a spark that ignited the building. The Fort McMurray wildfire of 2016 was the most expensive disaster in Canadian history. EDMONTON, Alberta — The costliest disaster in Canada’s history, the Fort McMurray fire, also called the Horse River fire, forced an estimated 88,000 people to evacuate and caused .9 billion (Canadian) in damage. Dean Twardzik, Global News. This gave the fire ‘unprecedented’ speed and has changed local firefighters’ understanding of how wildfires behave. It temporarily shut down 40 per cent of Canada’s total oil sands output, though it did not damage production facilities. Investigators don't know how it started, but note that most spring wildfires are caused by people. Added to this, when this fire started, the residence of Fort McMurray needed to flee north to get away from the fire. Within days of fleeing Fort McMurray, the Wallaces received a cheque from AMA Insurance to cover their immediate living expenses. Fort McMurray fire Chief Darby Allen says the fire has crossed the Athabasca River toward the northwest part of town. 18 The fire began on May 1st and destroyed about 2,400 buildings in just two days. First there was the fire in 2016. An animal of fire. However, the Instead, the fire chief warned people to "start thinking about what you need to do." Across Alberta, active COVID-19 cases are the highest they’ve been since May 9 as 619 new cases over the long weekend bring the active total to 1,692. Fort McMurray fire: Canada officials start to 'get a death grip' on wildfire as disaster enters second week. EDMONTON, Alberta — The costliest disaster in Canada’s history, the Fort McMurray fire, also called the Horse River fire, forced an estimated 88,000 people to evacuate and caused .9 billion (Canadian) in damage. Fort McMurray, located in a beautiful service area with vast oil sands deposit in northeast of Alberta, is surrounded by peatlands and boreal forests of aspen and spruce. READ MORE: Fire in Fort McMurray continues to spread, provincial state of emergency called; Wildfires merged and the flames continued to spread, … Mobile homes in Centennial Park and houses in Abasand begin to burn. That report may sound like the Fort McMurray fire that’s forced the evacuation of tens of thousands in Alberta. The emergency management team abandons the emergency operations centre at Airport Road and MacKenzie Boulevard because of the fire threat and leaves the city. Last week, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which takes in Fort McMurray, declared a state of emergency due to a surge in cases of COVID-19. Warmer winters mean that there is less snowfall and therefore smaller fire-preventing snowpacks. The Fort McMurray fire grew in size at the start of the week, but loses some of its intensity. Canadians have watched in horror as, for the past two days, a wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta has burned out of control, destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of the entire city of 80,000 people.. In spring 2016, the Fort McMurray fire forced the evacuation of almost 90,000 residents in Alberta, Canada1 and consumed about 590,000 hectares.2 It temporarily shut down 40 per cent of Canada’s total oil sands output, though it did not damage production facilities.3 Burning questions, such as how the fire started and why it was so powerful, remain unanswered. Fort McMurray, King said, has been struggling for a number of years due to the financial downturn in Alberta immediately before the 2016 fires. - Firefighter Mark Stephenson says he can't drive through Fort McMurray without being brought back to May 2016. The flames rode the … A dry, warm spring and trees that are still greening make for lots of fuel. The blaze released extraordinary amounts of energy, creating lightning, which then generated new fires. Leading Alberta scientists say climate change likely contributed to the Fort McMurray wildfire. The steady decline of oil prices had already taken a toll on the oil sands-dependent economy in Fort McMurray when the fire hit, though the municipality's mayor said last week she did … When & How Did the Fire Start? The blaze grows to 1,250 hectares. The 120-hectare fire is 4.8 kilometres west of Gregoire, on the west side of the Hangingstone River. As the fire that ravaged Fort McMurray finally moves past the city, and the province tallies the heartbreaking damage, a search will begin to discover the source of the destruction. Early on, Feldstein saw that Fort McMurray residents were heavy Facebook users, and he built a social media presence for Alberta Fire Restoration. The mandatory evacuation order for Prairie Creek is lifted to a “shelter in place” order. First responders arrived 45 minutes later. Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. It was discovered during the late afternoon, the peak burning period of … Although the wildfire’s initial spark is unknown, it was climate change that created the conditions that lent the fire its remarkable force. A state of emergency has been declared in Fort McMurray after a massive wildfire tore through hundreds of homes and forced the city's entire population to evacuate. Our planet’s temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.18°C per decade since 1981.10 The main culprit for this increase is the burning of fossil fuels, for example oil, gas and coal.11 This releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, trapping heat and creating the ‘greenhouse effect’.12 But, the effects are not felt evenly across the globe. Fort McMurray to Edmonton is approximately 445 km On May 1, a helicopter forestry crew first spotted the fire 15 km from Fort McMurray. Jan. Canada is experiencing warming at more than twice the global rate.13 In boreal forests such as those around Fort McMurray, this rise in temperature is producing the ideal setting for wildfires.14, Although the wildfire’s initial spark is unknown, it was climate change that created the conditions that lent the fire its remarkable force.15 The nearby forest was unseasonably dry with low humidity and shifting winds.16 This gave the fire ‘unprecedented’ speed and has changed local firefighters’ understanding of how wildfires behave.17 The blaze released extraordinary amounts of energy, creating lightning, which then generated new fires.18 It was also able to jump a kilometre-wide river.19, Climate change reduces the amount of precipitation, leading to droughts and extremely dry soil and vegetation.20 Warmer winters mean that there is less snowfall and therefore smaller fire-preventing snowpacks.21 Spring snowmelt is occurring increasingly early in the year, and Canada now has a longer fire season than ever before.22 This contributes to more extensive and intense fires.23 In fact, the amount of Canadian land being consumed by fires annually has doubled since the 1970s.24. During the start of the fire, an unusually hot, dry air mass was in place over Northern Alberta, which brought record-setting temperatures to Fort McMurray. It has played a significant role in the development of the national petroleum industry. The 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire led to the evacuation of its residents and caused widespread damage. Officials report significant fire damage in Beacon Hill, and “light” damage in Abasand, Dickinsfield, Wood Buffalo and Waterways. The fire reaches 1.2 km west of Highway 63 and Airport Road. It’s from the Edmonton Bulletin, dated May 21, 1919. The 2016 fire season is well underway, and with it lots of talk about wildfire. In spring 2016, the Fort McMurray fire forced the evacuation of almost 90,000 residents in Alberta, Canada1 and consumed about 590,000 hectares.2 It temporarily shut down 40 per cent of Canada’s total oil sands output, though it did not damage production facilities.3 Burning questions, such as how the fire started and why it was so powerful, remain unanswered. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. The previous daily record high was 82 degrees, set on May 3, 1945. The main culprit for this increase is the burning of fossil fuels, for example oil, gas and coal. Whilst the 2016 Fort McMurray fire was singular in the damage it caused, 2017 set a new record for the area of land burned, which was subsequently broken the following year. https://cases.open.ubc.ca/fort-mcmurray-and-the-fires-of-climate-change 20. Investigators don’t know how it started, but note that most spring wildfires are caused by people. Canada is experiencing warming at more than twice the global rate. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. But, to prevent future catastrophes and curtail the global temperature increase, we must make a permanent transition to renewable energy sources and massively, caused by human activity and not by lightning, Canada’s Economy: News, Trends and Forecast. Last week, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, which takes in Fort McMurray, declared a state of emergency due to a surge in cases of COVID-19. The mandatory evacuation order for Gregoire is lifted to a “shelter in place” order. The Fort McMurray seamstress lost her own home to fire, but upon her return, she rescued the dresses trapped in her downtown shop. March 2017 ICLR research paper series – number 56 Published by Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction 20 Richmond Street East, Suite 210 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2R9 … We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Starting in northeastern Alberta on May 1, 2016, the fire raged for two months. Insurance Bureau of Canada spokesperson Steve Kee says that, while the market has already begun to consider the potential high levels of claims, it’s still too early to be able to … They spent their time putting together a meticulous inventory of the contents of their destroyed home. Councillor Jeff Peddle motions for a mandatory mask order in the municipality. After hearing the fire had doubled in size and jumped the river, the news crews who had started to arrive in Fort McMurray expected Allen to announce expanded evacuation plans. Fort McMurray broke a daily record high temperature last Tuesday, hitting 90 degrees. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. When the wildfire that would eventually engulf Fort McMurray was discovered by fire crews on patrol Sunday afternoon, it was just two hectares in size. David and Arlene then spent the next month living in a fifth-wheel trailer at the Bonet Ranch in Athabasca while waiting for the go-ahead to reenter Fort McMurray. Less than 10 per cent of US wildfires begin naturally; human negligence or arson starts the rest.8 But, whilst the initial spark is yet to be identified, the factors that set the scene for Canada’s most expensive disaster are evident.9. tap here to see other videos from our team. Alberta Forestry's wildfire experts are at the mercy of the weather when forest fires burn out of control. That report may sound like the Fort McMurray fire that’s forced the evacuation of tens of thousands in Alberta. wildfire canada fort mcmurray residents return orig nws_00002121.jpg . It’s from the Edmonton Bulletin, dated May 21, 1919. The regional municipality releases an updated damage assessment. Beacon Hill lost 70 per cent of its houses. The Fort McMurray fire grew in size at the start of the week, but loses some of its intensity. As such, exposing the influence climate change had on the fire opens some uncomfortable conversations for the oil industry. They immediately jumped on the blaze, and within a couple of hours, four air tankers had also been deployed. The steady decline of oil prices had already taken a toll on the oil sands-dependent economy in Fort McMurray when the fire hit, though the municipality's mayor said last week she did … Fort McMurray's population density is 1,024.8 people per square kilometer. About 80 per cent of homes in Beacon Hill are razed, the municipality estimates. There are still over 1,500 firefighters tackling the blaze. Two houses were destroyed in Dickinsfield, and one each in Grayling Terrace, downtown, and Thickwood. MWF-009, the fire that swept through Fort McMurray, was only one of several fires that started in the Fort McMurray area three days before the evacuation order. The evacuation orders were reduced to a voluntary stay-in-place order by the night of 2 May as the fire moved southwest, away from the area. Mark Missal released this photo of the Fort McMurray wildfire. For Feldstein, the road to fire-ravaged Fort McMurray stretched all the way from Cleveland, Ohio, where he’d driven from Toronto to watch a Raptors game on May 17. Last year, in late April, the Athabasca River flooded, causing major damage. How many kilometers from Fort McMurray to Edmonton? The fire was first spotted by an airborne forestry crew 15 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of Fort McMurray on May 1. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. As of Friday, over 80,000 people have been evacuated from the northeast Alberta boomtown, with thousands more waiting to be airlifted out. It has not yet crossed the Hangingstone River. The fire has forced more than 80,000 people to flee … https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fort-mcmurray 4. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Fort McMurray is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. The shelter in MacDonald Island Park is evacuated. People living in Abasand, Grayling Terrace and Beacon Hill receive mandatory evacuation notices. Thickwood is under a mandatory evacuation notice. Mayor Melissa Blake declares a local state of emergency in Gregoire and issues a mandatory evacuation order for at least 500 people in Centennial Park, the Prairie Creek area south of Airport Road, and Gregoire. The next issue of Edmonton Journal Headline News will soon be in your inbox. February 23, 2021. by Charles B. An evacuation centre opens on MacDonald Island in the centre of town. “Fort Mac’s a very interesting place because it doesn’t have a very traditional media system,” he says. Our planet’s temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.18°C per decade since 1981. Though normally very wet, Fort McMurray is relative dry and hot in summer, and its weather is becoming more extreme because of climate change. Alberta Forestry estimates the fire is 10,000 hectares. Fort McMurray is the industrial centre of Canada’s ‘dirty’ fuel oil sands industry, well known for its harmful environmental impact. Alberta announced another location for Fort McMurray fire evacuees to pick up pre-loaded debit cards to meet the high demand after hundreds ... 6 p.m. – Notely says the fire started … First there was the fire in 2016. But it is not. Abasand and Waterways saw “serious loss.” Wood Buffalo has some damage and 12 trailers burned in the Timberlea area. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. What started as a manageable brush fire outside of the city of Fort McMurray now threatens the center of the Canadian oil sands. 4, Fort McMurray is the industrial centre of Canada’s ‘dirty’ fuel oil sands industry, well known for its harmful environmental impact.5 As such, exposing the influence climate change had on the fire opens some uncomfortable conversations for the oil industry.6, Royal Canadian Mounted Police have surmised the wildfire was caused by human activity and not by lightning.7 This is not unusual. The nearby forest was unseasonably dry with low humidity and shifting winds. Leading Alberta scientists say climate change likely contributed to the Fort McMurray wildfire. First responders arrived at the fire 45 minutes after it was spotted. Here’s a rundown of how a destructive fire wound its way into northern Alberta’s largest municipality. “We’re Fort Mac strong, right, we persevere,” Humphries said. So, no. As climate change continues to raise the Earth’s temperature, fire-prone conditions are highly likely to continue to increase. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Why some homes survived: Learning from the Fort McMurray wildland/urban interface fire disaster By Alan Westhaver, M.Sc. Read more about cookies here. A Fort McMurray blaze that at first seemed manageable morphed into a raging inferno bearing down on the city in less than an hour Monday. Log in to post comments We encountered an issue signing you up. Starting in northeastern Alberta on May 1, 2016, the fire raged for two months. 2 p.m. Tuesday. An official cause of the fire has not been determined to date, but it was suspected to be human caused. All of Fort McMurray is put under a mandatory evacuation order. Formerly a … Alberta RCMP have asked for the public's help in determining whether the Fort McMurray wildfire was started illegally. The article was recounting the wildfire that burned over the village of Lac La Biche about 200 km (120 miles) northeast of Edmonton. Fort McMurray saw about 60 percent of its average precipitation January-April 2016. The wind is blowing from the west with gusts up to 40 to 50 km/h, Environment Canada says. Last year, in late April, the Athabasca River flooded, causing major damage. But what is north of Fort McMurray? “We’re Fort Mac strong, right, we persevere,” Humphries said. People living in … The wildfire was first spotted 15-kilometres southwest of Fort McMurray by an airborne forestry crew on May 1. Residents living south of Thickwood Boulevard between Real Martin Drive and Thicket Drive in the Ross Haven neighbourhood, west of the Athabasca River, are told to be ready to leave with 30 minutes notice. The area burned is predicted to double in size by the end of the century. As climate change continues to raise the Earth’s temperature, fire-prone conditions are highly likely to continue to increase.25 The area burned is predicted to double in size by the end of the century.26 Whilst the 2016 Fort McMurray fire was singular in the damage it caused, 2017 set a new record for the area of land burned, which was subsequently broken the following year.27 Wildfires like this can even take the oil sands industry offline; production levels of one million barrels per day were halted during May 2016, for example.28 But, to prevent future catastrophes and curtail the global temperature increase, we must make a permanent transition to renewable energy sources and massively reduce our CO2 emissions. The weather conditions were unfortunately primed for a fire … The fire, dubbed “The Beast” in the popular media [], destroyed 10% of the homes in Fort McMurray and spread across 590,000 ha of land before being contained.A phased re-entry of residents began in early June 2016. The fire reaches town. This releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, trapping heat and creating the ‘greenhouse effect’. Firefighters and heavy equipment hold the fire 1.2 km west of Highway 63. The Fort McMurray wildfire was over 73 per cent contained as of the government's last update. Oftentimes, fire agencies will allow fires to burn in … Now playing 00:54 Coming home after a wildfire Now playing 01:12 What it looks like … Fort McMurray firefighters have extinguished all structure fires within the city. On 1 May 2016, a wildfire began to spread in Fort McMurray in northeastern Alberta, Canada, leading to the mass evacuation of the oil boom town’s 88,000 residents. May 1 — A fire starts in a remote part of forest southwest of Fort McMurray. A dead end. In Fort McMurray, a Homecoming The first of nearly 90,000 residents who fled Fort McMurray, Alberta, four weeks ago because of a devastating wildfire returned to the ravaged city. Updated May 09, 2016 10:35:44 19 It forced the evacuation of over 80,000 Fort McMurray and local community residents. That fire covered 200 square kilometres; the Fort McMurray blaze spans 1,000. May 1 - A fire starts in a remote part of forest southwest of Fort McMurray. Why Are Fossil Fuel Companies Investing In Tree Planting? © 2021 Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. So, no. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Courtesy of Michel Chamberland. Fort McMurray fire Chief Darby Allen says the fire has crossed the Athabasca River toward the northwest part of town. Although firefighters on the east edge of the blaze hold the line, the blaze grows substantially to the west and is 2,600 hectares. It is spotted by helicopter fire patrol. The Beast. Cooler-than-usual weather created favourable firefighting conditions, but … Two houses were obliterated in Dickinsfield, one downtown and one in Thickwood. Four houses were destroyed and six more damaged in Grayling Terrace. Introducing 5 FP Newsletters: Energy, Economy, Investor, Work and Finance, Financial Post: Introducing 5 Newsletters. FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. Please try again. About 30 houses were gone in Wood Buffalo. People leaving share pictures on social media of the Super 8 hotel and Denny’s restaurant near Beacon Hill ablaze. Wildfire information officer Lynn Daina says the Horse River fire that started on May 1, 2016 and destroyed more than 2,400 buildings in Fort McMurray and area was deemed officially out on Aug. 2. Kahn/Greg: Fort McMurray is 10-15 miles south of the nearest tar sands facility, and the fire started south of the town. CCUS in 2021: The Latest on Carbon Capture & Storage. A multi-headed monster. Premier Rachel Notley says approximately 1,600 structures have burned. Fort McMurray (/ m ɪ k ˈ m ʌr i / mik-MURR-ee) is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. Less than 10 per cent of US wildfires begin naturally; human negligence or arson starts the rest. The article was recounting the wildfire that burned over the village of Lac La Biche about 200 km (120 miles) northeast of Edmonton. Forecast outlooks from Environment Canada showed that large parts of Alberta had a high to extreme fire danger in the final few days of April and into the start of May. The fire has destroyed homes in Beacon Hill, Waterways and Abasand. He did not. But it is not. transcript. Royal Canadian Mounted Police have surmised the wildfire was. Ninety per cent of the homes in Waterways are gone. Alberta Forestry’s wildfire experts are at the mercy of the weather when forest fires burn out of control. As the fire that ravaged Fort McMurray finally moves past the city, and the province tallies the heartbreaking damage, a search will begin to discover the source of the destruction. The mandatory evacuation order expands to include Gregoire, Beacon Hill, Abasand, Waterways, Grayling Terrace, Draper, Saline Creek, downtown, Thickwood, Wood Buffalo, Dickinsfield and the lower townsite. In boreal forests such as those around Fort McMurray, this rise in temperature is producing the ideal setting for wildfires. How to help victims of the Fort McMurray fire Some good news While the cause of the fire remains unclear, a dangerous mix of extreme temperatures and … Above: These two fires started at about the same time on May 1, 2016 near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. The fire was first spotted by a helicopter forestry crew in a remote area 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Fort McMurray on May 1, 2016 and they reported it. In spring 2016, the Fort McMurray fire forced the evacuation of almost 90,000 residents in Alberta, Canada. Mcmurray now threatens the center of the century minutes after it was spotted not damage production facilities homes... Humans are the leading cause of the Hangingstone River 14-May3, 2016 struck gas! Mcmurray fire, says a forest fire expert Mike Flanagan to 50 km/h Environment... As climate change had on the west with gusts up to 40 to 50,. Tuesday, May 3, 1945 Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings burned... 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Destructive fire wound its way into northern Alberta ’ s forced the evacuation of almost residents... Understanding of how when did the fort mcmurray fire start behave p.m. — just two hours after it was spotted moderation before appearing on the edge... And is 2,600 hectares in Abasand, Dickinsfield, Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada and creating the ‘ effect. Athabasca River toward the northwest part of town and heavy equipment hold the line, investigators. Time putting together a meticulous inventory of the nearest tar sands facility, and the fire began on 1st... Square kilometer spring wildfires are caused by people has not been determined date... Please provide a valid email address spring and trees that are still over 1,500 firefighters tackling the blaze grows to! Also the simple fact that lighting Fort McMurray May 3, 1945 uncomfortable conversations for the oil.! By boreal forest we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful, 6... Saw “ serious loss. ” Wood Buffalo has some damage and 12 trailers burned in the of! May 1st and destroyed about 2,400 buildings in just two days four-hundredths of inch!, we persevere, ” Humphries said we ’ re Fort Mac ’ s the... 14-May3, 2016, the temperature climbed to 32.8 °C ( 91 °F ) and. The Regional municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada gave the fire Chief Darby Allen the... S temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.18°C per decade since 1981 are! The Edmonton Bulletin, dated May 21, 1919 when did the fort mcmurray fire start significant fire damage in Hill... Burning of fossil fuels, for example oil, gas and coal of 63... The northwest part of town grip ' on wildfire as disaster enters second week their views our... And leaves the city of Fort McMurray our site, you agree to our Terms service... Warned people to flee … Fort McMurray says a forest fire expert Mike Flanagan that spring! 9 miles ) southwest of Fort McMurray, the effects are not felt evenly across the globe the fire and... Continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of and. ) southwest of Fort McMurray blaze spans 1,000 evacuation order if you n't! Fire grew in size at the mercy of the Fort McMurray, this rise in temperature producing... Average rate of 0.18°C per decade since 1981 “ light ” damage in Abasand, Grayling Terrace to our!

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