User:The Interior/Chisholm fire
| Chisholm fire | |
|---|---|
 An editor has nominated the above file for discussion of its purpose and/or potential deletion. You are welcome to participate in the discussion and help reach a consensus. | |
| Date(s) | May 23, 2001 – June 4, 2001 |
| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Statistics | |
| Total area | 116,000 hectares (290,000 acres) |
| Impacts | |
| Structures destroyed | >=75 |
The Chisholm fire was a forest fire in the Canadian province of Alberta that burned in the late spring of 2001. It is known for its exceptional intensity and fire behavior. In fact, at the time, it had the highest head fire intensity ever recorded. [1] The fire was declared under control on June 4, 2001,[2] with a total burned area of 116,000 hectares (290,000 acres).[3]
Background and cause
[edit]Northern Alberta is largely boreal forest, with a mix of deciduous and highly flammable conifer species, such as white and black spruce, balsam fir, and jack pine. This is a forest type adapted to fire that burns in 50- to 200-year cycles.[4] In 2001, fire season started on March 1st, a month earlier than all previous years except 2000. This was the result of precipitation deficits from the winters of 1997-2000 which led to unprecedented fuel consumption by the fire. Similarities have been drawn with the 1968 Vega Fire, in particular regarding the weather conditions, extreme fire intensity, rapid rates of spread, and the location where it burned.[1]
Ignition
[edit]The fire was initially discovered at 9:19 PM local time on May 23, 2001 by the public, who alerted fire officials. The Alberta government faulted a malfunctioning train wheel on a Canadian National Railway train as the source of the fire.[5] The fire rapidly spread through the night and by 9 A.M the following day, it covered 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of land.[1]
Progression
[edit]Unusually intense fire behavior was observed on the first night, with crowning occuring late into the night.[6] On the second day, extremely active fire behavior was recorded, including spots 1km ahead of the fire, and occasional torching. In the morning, the fire jumped the Athabasca River. By noon, it had spread further, with an infrared mapping putting it at 4,310 hectares (10,700 acres). The next day, the fire made its first run toward the hamlet of Chisholm, Alberta. At 19:00 local time, it crossed the dozer line, and then proceeded to spread extremely rapidly, covering approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) in just 5 minutes.[1] Fire activity moderated on the 26th due to a small amount of rain. However, this lull in activity would not last long, as the next day, the fire made a large run to the northwest, away from Chisholm. The next day, winds were strong(30-50 km/h sustained), along with high fuel densities, so the day was dominated by extreme fire behavior. A spot fire was observed at 1:30 PM. Due to the strong winds, intense fire behavior, and smoke, the spot fire could not be brought under control, and the spot fire later burned some structures within the next couple hours. Just after 4 P.M, another fire started NE of Chisholm, Alberta and rapidly spread, making a 12 kilometer run and chewing through 3,063 hectares (7,570 acres) of land by 8 P.M. Weather conditions moderated the next day, and from then on, no significant fire activity was observed. [1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Final documentation report Chisholm fire (LWF-063) - Open Government". open.alberta.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "Massive Alberta forest fire contained". CBC News. June 4, 2001.
- ^ Benscoter, Brian W; Wieder, R Kelman (2003-12-01). "Variability in organic matter lost by combustion in a boreal bog during the 2001 Chisholm fire". Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 33 (12): 2509–2513. doi:10.1139/x03-162. ISSN 0045-5067.
- ^ Chisholm fire Review Committee (2001-10-01). Chisholm Fire Review Committee final report (PDF). Edmonton, Alberta: Sustainable Resource Development, Government of Alberta. p. 7.
- ^ "CN paying $18.6-million over 2001 Alberta fire". The Globe and Mail. 2006-01-14. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "The World's First Wildfire Tornado Blazed a Path of Destruction Through Australia". Smithsonian Magazine. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2024-09-12.