Education 3508 Effective Presentation Project

1. Crowsnest Fires August 21, 2003

2. Overview A seasonal wildfire got out of control A 6-km wall of flame reached 50 m high The fire threw off the energy equivalent of an atomic explosion every 30 minutes The fire burned over 20,000 hectares of forest

3. Residents Viewpoint Resident, Elaine Hruby, was home when told to leave immediately She didn’t know what to take, recalling “You start doing crazy things.” Hruby then drove 20 km stopping at the top of the valley She watched the flames from a distance

4. Economic Effect Tourism was hit hard Small local businesses were unaffected Spray lake Sawmill benefited Owned 28% of annual salvage rights Dependant on root scorch and salvage cost

6. Burned areas allows for rich undergrowth