Colby Cosh: In a redoubt north of Fort McMurray, a city’s people await a battle
9 Replies to “McMurray Fires”
First of all, I think it’s a tribute to the residents that there are no reported casualties. I’d imagine other places with mass evacuations would have had a lot more difficulties with panicking, confusion and chaos. I wonder how much credit goes fire and safety protocols that are such a big part of industrial work. And, in my experience, trades people aren’t prone to panicking anyway.
As for the causes, well, who didn’t expect the climate change zealots to appear with their “Gaia’s wrath” mentality. In reality, the only way to find a CAGW fingerprint is to exclude all other explanations. Even then it’s merely a statistical risk not a mathematical certainty. Which is why only the ignorant would try to link any one event with CAGW. Personally, I guess the PDO/El Nino is the major factor along with old forests.
The northern forests and the prairies have always had wild fires but human casualties and property damage have been reduced through proper management. Are there are other engineering and physical ways to reduce fire risks. Fire breaks and controlled burns, etc.? Climate alarmist’s political policies resulting in .0X to .00X Celsius reduction in global temps by 2100 does absolutely nothing to reduce the risk. Adaptation and human ingenuity will always be more effective than mitigation.
Well at least the part time underwear model with a gig in the PMO managed to make all Fort Mac residents sound like non Canadians. I wonder when he is going to whip out his C 17 for fun and frolics and send in the DART team with Paul Martin’s water plant?
Spring fires typically are not too destructive, as the soil and debris on the ground is damp, there has to be a hot ground fire for a running crown fire to run like this one appears to be doing.
One contributing factor are ‘ladder fuels’ such as lots of dead branches still on the trees, historically, these ladder fuels were burned off during small spring fires and never accumulated in great amounts.
However, man has gotten real good at putting out these natural pruning shears and the consequences are hot, destructive spring/summer fires.
Firefighters who start fires: a look at the phenomenon of ‘firefighter arson’
Sometimes it’s for the thrill, sometimes it’s so they can be a hero.
There are several cases of firefighters who start fires, a phenomenon officially called “firefighter arson.”
Kevin Wedick, an Edmonton private fire investigator with the consulting firm Origin and Cause, says that of the cases he’s seen in Alberta, most involve volunteer firefighters from small, rural departments. …
One of the most infamous firefighter arson cases is John Orr, an arson investigator in California who started hundreds of fires in the 80s and 90s, including one that killed four people. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/firefighters-start-fires-look-phenomenon-firefighter-arson-224614625.html?nhp=1
It’s been my experience that in spite of what some think is the major cause of fire, that about 70% of wildland fires are the result of lightning strikes, about 25% more are accidentally caused by machinery such as sparks from dozer blades etc.
Another real culprit in Northern Ontario was rail grinding trains, which provides lots of entertainment during the summer for fire crews and departments.
The remaining 5% were caused by either stupidity such as unattended camp firs or deliberately set fires.
In regards to a carelessly discarded cigarette, not likely, it’s almost impossible to get a fire going in dry grass, conifer needles or even gasoline, try it yourself if you don’t belive me. If a nest of super dry grass is created with a lit cigarette in the middle, you just may get one going, however that scenario is unlikely to take place in nature
This might be a good time to remind the RCMP that no, it is not appropriate to enter an evacuated place to seize their firearms.
O.K. you conspiracy theorists. Wrap your head around this one: The home town of the Wildrose Opposition Leader has been evacuated due to natural catastrophe twice in the last few years. Is that one for the X-files?
First of all, I think it’s a tribute to the residents that there are no reported casualties. I’d imagine other places with mass evacuations would have had a lot more difficulties with panicking, confusion and chaos. I wonder how much credit goes fire and safety protocols that are such a big part of industrial work. And, in my experience, trades people aren’t prone to panicking anyway.
As for the causes, well, who didn’t expect the climate change zealots to appear with their “Gaia’s wrath” mentality. In reality, the only way to find a CAGW fingerprint is to exclude all other explanations. Even then it’s merely a statistical risk not a mathematical certainty. Which is why only the ignorant would try to link any one event with CAGW. Personally, I guess the PDO/El Nino is the major factor along with old forests.
The northern forests and the prairies have always had wild fires but human casualties and property damage have been reduced through proper management. Are there are other engineering and physical ways to reduce fire risks. Fire breaks and controlled burns, etc.? Climate alarmist’s political policies resulting in .0X to .00X Celsius reduction in global temps by 2100 does absolutely nothing to reduce the risk. Adaptation and human ingenuity will always be more effective than mitigation.
Well at least the part time underwear model with a gig in the PMO managed to make all Fort Mac residents sound like non Canadians. I wonder when he is going to whip out his C 17 for fun and frolics and send in the DART team with Paul Martin’s water plant?
Spring fires typically are not too destructive, as the soil and debris on the ground is damp, there has to be a hot ground fire for a running crown fire to run like this one appears to be doing.
One contributing factor are ‘ladder fuels’ such as lots of dead branches still on the trees, historically, these ladder fuels were burned off during small spring fires and never accumulated in great amounts.
However, man has gotten real good at putting out these natural pruning shears and the consequences are hot, destructive spring/summer fires.
Firefighters who start fires: a look at the phenomenon of ‘firefighter arson’
Sometimes it’s for the thrill, sometimes it’s so they can be a hero.
There are several cases of firefighters who start fires, a phenomenon officially called “firefighter arson.”
Kevin Wedick, an Edmonton private fire investigator with the consulting firm Origin and Cause, says that of the cases he’s seen in Alberta, most involve volunteer firefighters from small, rural departments. …
One of the most infamous firefighter arson cases is John Orr, an arson investigator in California who started hundreds of fires in the 80s and 90s, including one that killed four people.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/firefighters-start-fires-look-phenomenon-firefighter-arson-224614625.html?nhp=1
To prove your point.
The Mayerthorpe fire that burned down the railway trestle 2 weeks ago was set by a volunteer fire-fighter who is the son of a former mayor.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/former-mayerthorpe-mayor-defends-son-accused-of-arson-in-cn-fire-1.3561417
It’s been my experience that in spite of what some think is the major cause of fire, that about 70% of wildland fires are the result of lightning strikes, about 25% more are accidentally caused by machinery such as sparks from dozer blades etc.
Another real culprit in Northern Ontario was rail grinding trains, which provides lots of entertainment during the summer for fire crews and departments.
The remaining 5% were caused by either stupidity such as unattended camp firs or deliberately set fires.
In regards to a carelessly discarded cigarette, not likely, it’s almost impossible to get a fire going in dry grass, conifer needles or even gasoline, try it yourself if you don’t belive me. If a nest of super dry grass is created with a lit cigarette in the middle, you just may get one going, however that scenario is unlikely to take place in nature
From The Rebel – it’s Notley’s fault.
http://www.therebel.media/the_rebel_is_raising_100_000_to_help_rebuild_fort_mcmurray?utm_campaign=rebuildfortmac&utm_medium=email&utm_source=therebel
This might be a good time to remind the RCMP that no, it is not appropriate to enter an evacuated place to seize their firearms.
O.K. you conspiracy theorists. Wrap your head around this one: The home town of the Wildrose Opposition Leader has been evacuated due to natural catastrophe twice in the last few years. Is that one for the X-files?