The Crowsnest forest fire in 2003 abruptly became a raging disaster, whipping over slopes with the energy of an atomic explosion. One resident, Elaine Hruby, was evacuated from her home with only a few belongings and watched the flames from a distance. The fire burned over 20,000 hectares, affecting the timber industry and some local businesses like tourism, though other businesses were steady. Salvage efforts to recover lumber depended on the amount of root scorch from the fire. While the burned area initially looked devoid of life, it would over time create new ecological diversity.

1. CrowsnestForestFireCrowsnestForestFire
PhotobyPhotobyJudyBaxterJudyBaxter

2. Crowsnest FiresCrowsnest Fires
 Aug. 2l, 2003: Fire Out of Control
-A seasonal wildfire abruptly became a raging disaster.
Photo by slworking2
The fire was suddenly whipping over the slopes, throwing off
the energy equivalent of a an atomic explosion.

3. Personal Stories --Personal Stories --
How Lives are AffectedHow Lives are Affected
One resident who was home that day was Elaine Hruby.
Elaine was evacuated from her home, taking only a few personal
belongings.
Elaine drove to a rock ledge overlooking the valley and watched
the flames veer down on Hillcrest.
“I felt masochistic, sitting on the outcropping,” she recalls.
“But those flames were like a magnet.”

4. ConsequencesConsequences
In 2003 the Crowsnest fire burned over 20,000 hectares of forest,
affecting not only the timber industry, but also local businesses.
Tourism was hit hard, but other businesses like local dry
cleaners, gas stations, and restaurants maintained a steady
business.

5. OpportunitiesOpportunities
 Spray Lake Sawmills will salvage the lumber they can.
However, salvage efforts depend on the amount of root scorch.
Burnt bark is not good, but de-barking the trees will reduce the
carbon content.
Photo by
Andrey
Sukhanov

6. Environmental ConsiderationsEnvironmental Considerations
There are also ecological pros and cons.
A burned area looks devoid of life but over time creates
diversity that wasn’t there before.
A burned area creates ecological diversity and allows for the
development of rich undergrowth that wasn’t there before.

7. GlossaryGlossary
Recalling - to bring back from memory; recollect; remember
Veer -
Abruptly - sudden or unexpected
Equivalent -
Masochistic - gratification gained from pain, deprivation, degradation
Hectares - a unit of surface, or land, measure equal to 100 acres
Quota - the share or proportional part of a total
Salvage- the act of saving anything from fire, danger, etc.
Scorch- to affect the color, taste, etc., of by burning slightly
Devoid - not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute
Ecological diversity- variety of biological communities or ecosystems
in a given area.
equal in value, measure, force, effect, significance
to change direction or turn about