this one includes credits for graphics

1. Crowsnest Fires August 2003 Figure 1: Background image1

2. Crowsnest Fires The Origin of the Fire When: Aug. 2l, 2003. Random seasonal wildfire Changed direction and transformed into a giant fire. Figure 2: Firelight2

3. Crowsnest fires Features of the Fire 6-km wall of flame reached 50 m into the sky, Equivalent energy of an atomic explosion every 30 minutes. Figure 3: Aerial image3

4. Crowsnest Firesan eye witness account Home Alone: Elaine Hruby, Husband up north in Fort McMurray. At 10 a.m. authorities told her to leave. Immediately. “I didn’t know what to take,” says Hruby, recalling her anxious departure, “You start doing crazy things.”

5. Crowsnest Firesan eye witness account Hruby Collected: Cat, dog, mining lamp, her jewelry (but not his), and a little plastic Buddha. Mezmerized: drove to lookout to watch fire From her vantage point could watch the fire descend on Hillcrest Despite her horror, she couldn’t stop looking

6. Crowsnest Firesan eye witness account “I felt masochistic, sitting on the outcropping,” Hruby recalls, “But those flames were like a magnet.” Figure 4 Forest fire4

7. Crowsnest Firesthe fallout Crowsnest Fire blaze (2003) burned over 20,000 hectares of forest Affecting: Timber industry, local businesses, tourism (especially hard hit But local dry cleaners, gas stations, restaurants and office services maintained a steady business.

8. Crowsnest Firesthe fallout Example: Spray Lake Sawmills Benefits: able to use a significant amount of the burnt lumber. With large salvage quota (28%) able to ensure burnt lumber not wasted Difficulties: Root scorch cost of accessibility Debarking dilemma burnt bark is not useable but de-barking the trees will keep the chips clean and reduce the carbon content.

10. A burned area creates ecological diversity and allows for the development of rich undergrowth that wasn’t there before.Negative Over time burned area creates diversity that wasn’t there before Large stands of timber smother the light and inhibit undergrowth – even though large stands of trees are aesthetically pleasing and profitable for the lumber industry.

11. Crowsnest firesGraphic sources Figure #: Image obtained from:Jason Knight. (2003). Lost Creek Fire, Looking South: July 2003, [Online Image]. Retrieved September 17, 2009, from: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/courses/geog376/students/class06/fire/lost_creek_fire_south.jpg/ Image obtained from: Jason Knight. (2003). Hillcrest Fire: August 2, 2003, [Online Image]. Retrieved September 17, 2009, from: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/courses/geog376/students/class06/fire/hillcrest.jpg Image obtained from: Jason Knight. (2003). Ridge Forest Fire, [Online Image]. Retrieved September 17, 2009, from: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/courses/geog376/students/class06/fire/ridge_forest_fire.jpg Image obtained from: Photographer unknown. (2007). Special 2 Me: Damage Control vs teaching, [Online Image]. Retrieved September 17, 2009, from: http://specialedandme.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/forest-fire.jpe?w=310&h=192