Every time I see this thread title I think of this guy and start humming the My Three Sons theme.
Most people are. They were probably on level 1-2 evac depending on proximity to the fire leading up to the evac. Once they set you level 3 you get out, but they dont force you to leave either. When you have a large population ready to leave and then the warning goes it's no big surprise it turns into a cluster getting out. Couple that with how fast a wildfire moves (it generates its own wind) and its not a surprise people are barely getting out. It's all fine and dandy to sit at a keyboard and preach, but until you are in that situation and have dealt with it it's hard to comprehend. Wildfires are no joke, but neither is mass evacuation on the off chance it flares.
OK, look, I don't want to belabor this anymore than needed, but even with a single road 70K people should not take much more than 4 hours to get everyone out. My review of the videos seemed to indicate that almost no one left before the fire was burning there neighborhood. 70K people isn't millions -- not by a long shot!
I feel bad that many will have lost everything and even worse it sounds like the energy company is going to use this event as an excuse to prune labor (people) during the already tough time the industry is going through with low oil prices and higher cost associated with processing low quality tar sands into sell-able oil/fuel.
But, the idea that they had no idea the fire could turn there way is ridiculous and with the trees so dry and flammable it's surely a bad call from both the governmental folks and the locals that waited too long. I hope there's an after action report done and lessons are learned.
Brian
Every time I see this thread title I think of this guy and start humming the My Three Sons theme.
Are you in the monday morning quarterbacking hall of fame?
If the officials that managed this do not learn from it then this will happen again! What part of that do you fail to grasp?
Brian
edit: Google revealed a 15 year old girl died in a traffic accident. That's all I have found so far.
It was actually two, her and a guy from another family. Could say that if they didn't have to evacuate, they'd be fine.
But I'd be more concerned about the lung cancer from breathing in all that smoke.
OK, look, I don't want to belabor this anymore than needed, but even with a single road 70K people should not take much more than 4 hours to get everyone out. My review of the videos seemed to indicate that almost no one left before the fire was burning there neighborhood. 70K people isn't millions -- not by a long shot!
I feel bad that many will have lost everything and even worse it sounds like the energy company is going to use this event as an excuse to prune labor (people) during the already tough time the industry is going through with low oil prices and higher cost associated with processing low quality tar sands into sell-able oil/fuel.
But, the idea that they had no idea the fire could turn there way is ridiculous and with the trees so dry and flammable it's surely a bad call from both the governmental folks and the locals that waited too long. I hope there's an after action report done and lessons are learned.
Brian
There is probably little to learn from this. It's easy to look back and see what could have been done differently. Looking into the future is next to impossible though. You seem overly fixated on blaming somebody, yet I am unaware of a single Death occurring. In time it might turn out that some refused to leave and ended up dead, but that's besides the point.
The tragedy here is in the loss of Homes/Property. Not in the loss of Lives.
edit: Google revealed a 15 year old girl died in a traffic accident. That's all I have found so far.
It would be sad if nothing was learned here. My take away is:
1. If you live in an area that's bone dry with highly flammable fuel (dry pine) it would be wise to have plans ahead of time to leave if a fire were to break out.
2. If a fire breaks out it would be wise to know what direction it's moving and whether a change in weather could bring it towards you.
3. If the fire begins to move towards you and the conditions say it will move fast then leave NOW! Period!
Of course, the major lessons here need to be learned by the officials that are managing the situation. Ultimately, it is the officials that have to command people leave as people, no matter where they are, tend to sit tight thinking they can ride it out. But, what happens is the people the decide to leave get in trouble and call for help which takes emergency people away from other jobs they may need to do.
This is not a Canada thing, it's a human nature thing and you don't bury you head in the sand and hope it goes away -- it won't! Trust me, there will be an after action report on this and I guarantee it will be scathing!
Brian
Here's an interactive GIS map for reference and so I don't have to look for it later.
http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-map
it would be sad if nothing was learned here. My take away is:
1. If you live in an area that's bone dry with highly flammable fuel (dry pine) it would be wise to have plans ahead of time to leave if a fire were to break out.
2. If a fire breaks out it would be wise to know what direction it's moving and whether a change in weather could bring it towards you.
3. If the fire begins to move towards you and the conditions say it will move fast then leave now! Period!
Of course, the major lessons here need to be learned by the officials that are managing the situation. Ultimately, it is the officials that have to command people leave as people, no matter where they are, tend to sit tight thinking they can ride it out. But, what happens is the people the decide to leave get in trouble and call for help which takes emergency people away from other jobs they may need to do.
This is not a canada thing, it's a human nature thing and you don't bury you head in the sand and hope it goes away -- it won't! Trust me, there will be an after action report on this and i guarantee it will be scathing!
Brian
It likely won't be over until the rains come this fall.
Assuming that still happens. Isn't watching our climate state change fun?!
Different sources put 8000-10,000 forest fires in Canada each year.