canadian wildfire may 2016

[cletrac (RIP)]

I'm about 400 miles south east of the fire and visibility was under 2 miles today and the smoke smell was strong.
They make a big deal out of everybody getting out OK but in that city everybody has a safety meeting every morning. It's part of their life.

[Little Jo]

Hi All

Living in the Adelaide Hills and having survived two major bush fires. My thoughts are with all you guys in Alberta during these trying times. From what we have seen on our local TV and Newspapers it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of such a fire. Saving lives must be the priority, material things can be rebuilt. I know that the Canadian people will be ready help those in need.

Stay strong and positive.

Tony

[Harry Moon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQZxcSRGqlo
Fire moves fast!

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Harry Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQZxcSRGqlo
Fire moves fast!

What's with those buggers not giving way to the fire truck? Idiots.

[rob love]

I think it was because they were so close to the trees that were turning into Roman Candles. The heat had to be incredible. In their case, they were at risk of perishing from the heat in standstill traffic. If that is the case, nobody can blame them.

You can see the ash falling onto the hood of the car with the dashcamera. He also pulled out of his lane because of the heat.

If you watch this video you will see what was going on behind that vehicle and why those cars (and the motorcyclist) did not worry about blocking the fire truck. They were in trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCc1FvZ3g0Q

You can also watch the small fire in the shrubbery at the house on the corner erupt into something much bigger.

[chris vickery]

Folks, remember, in Fort Mac there is essentially one way in and out.
The highway is a nuthouse at the best of times...
God help the residents of Ft MacMurray.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by rob love

If you watch this video you will see what was going on behind that vehicle and why those cars (and the motorcyclist) did not worry about blocking the fire truck. They were in trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCc1FvZ3g0Q

You can also watch the small fire in the shrubbery at the house on the corner erupt into something much bigger.

From 2:19 to 2:49 it goes from a small spot fire from drifting embers to something capable of engulfing the house! 30 sec!!

Originally Posted by Chris Vickery

Folks, remember, in Fort Mac there is essentially one way in and out.
The highway is a nuthouse at the best of times...

I've got to congratulate many of those drivers for their traffic manners in that situation. I would have completely understood the motorcyclist scooting past the whole line of traffic, or at the very least shielding himself from radiant heat on the driver's side of the pickup. Instead he patiently waits his turn in a line of traffic. Other drivers too patiently wait in a an orderly line. In the right hand lane of the road closest to the road when their is no two way traffic except for Emergency Services! This says volumes about the inherent courtesy of Canadian drivers compared to Australians.

.

[Harry Moon]

https://www.facebook.com/CTVEdmonton...6124731755914/
You can recognize the area from the previous video in relation to the blue SHAW trucks.
Basically the trucks heading straight at the fire trucks were running out of the burning building.
Its not like the movies, people remain calm, unless they are on fire, then they scream and panic, but regularly people act calmly and help each other out.
I hope peoples fascination with Urban forests takes a beating, this could happen to any city with a large tree canopy. And yes that is my neighbourhood!

[rob love]

Here as well Harry. We have a 90 year old forest nearby which is primarily Jack Pine planted in the 1920s and perhaps some in the 1940s. At this point many of the trees are starting to go over, and combined with a floor of pine needles and firebreaks that are no longer maintained and now grown over, it is not a matter of "might" but "when".

There are a good number of houses just across the road from the forest, including a lot of the new builds. Natural resources has now allowed cutting of fuelwood for the first 100 yards into that forest to make some level of fireguard, but as can be seen in the video, the safety of 100 yards may be an illusion.