The Crowsnest Fire in August 2003 abruptly changed direction and became a wildfire, burning 20,000 hectares of forest near Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. The massive fire had huge impacts on the local lumber and tourism industries. While the fire caused a temporary loss of animal habitat and mature tree growth, it created greater diversity and increased sunlight to the undergrowth as the forest regenerates. Local sawmills worked to salvage burned timber where possible.

1. Crowsnest Fire August 2003

2. Aug. 2, 2003 – A forest fire abruptly changes direction and becomes a wildfire. The 6-km wide, 50-m high wall of flame gives off the energy of an atomic explosion every 30 minutes. “I didn’t know what to take” “I felt masochistic…but those flames were like a magnet”

3. Effects and Salvage Efforts 20,000 hectares of forest burned Huge impact on lumber and tourism industries Area sawmills salvaging as much as possible Success depends on amount of root scorch and costs involved

4. Ecological Impact Negative: Temporary loss of animal homes Loss of mature growth Positive: Undergrowth no longer starved for light by large trees Greater diversity emerges

5. References Image 1 – Transfer and Fire Fighting, [online image].(n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 21, 2009 from Dean Bennett Supply Co. http://www.sewagepumpsales.com/gas-driven-pumps.htm Image 2 – Process of Changing Forest, [online image].(n.d.). Retrieved Sept. 21, 2009 from Union of B.C. Municipalities. http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=https://ground.hpr.for.gov.bc.ca/photos/fire_near_house.jpg&imgrefurl=https://ground.hpr.for.gov.bc.ca/&usg=__yt2FGq8SDPPNtlrE1gJO308nMgM=&h=296&w=410&sz=26&hl=en&start=6&sig2=tIVxgUx_9f-VuKZdv5VEQQ&um=1&tbnid=fRv4_rBqJasRJM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dforest%2Bfire%2Bnearing%2Bhouse%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=unG5Su29FZH4tAPn2PRF Image 3 – Whitfield, David (artist). Kelowna Wild Fire 2003, [online image]. (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 21, 2009 from The Canadian Rockies Blog. http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rocky-peak.com/photos/fire-kelowna.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rocky-peak.com/blog/2006_07_01_archive.html&usg=__i1m1k7vcxUzD1aFe98hHCgVB_18=&h=195&w=300&sz=7&hl=en&start=21&sig2=ZPeXkx68A0_HMWI1O1txvQ&um=1&tbnid=c9OAe-cwAgUXnM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrowsnest%2Bfire%2Baugust%2B2003%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1&ei=oW-5SsL4LZD0sgPMv4Rc Image 4 – Logging, [online image]. (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 21, 2009 from Bindarri. http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bindarri.com.au/wp-content/featureimg/envi/Salvage-Logging151.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bindarri.com.au/envi-carbon-neutral-paper/&usg=__x4if9WgN23soy7BRas_mIaO-V1U=&h=194&w=300&sz=32&hl=en&start=94&sig2=Izi8dyRypL8RRuZ3GH4CUA&um=1&tbnid=GWrQa8RLd6d77M:&tbnh=75&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsalvage%2Blogging%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D80%26um%3D1&ei=nnW5SrrxAZKyswOg-fFM Image 5 – Regrowth after a burn, [online image]. (n.d.) Retrieved Sept. 21, 2009 from “Forest Fires”. http://ajwaters.myweb.uga.edu/