The Crowsnest fire began on August 21, 2009 and quickly grew out of control, transforming into a giant flaming wall. It covered an area of six kilometers, reaching fifty meters high and releasing as much energy every thirty minutes as an atomic explosion. Local resident Elaine Hruby was evacuated from her home and watched in horror as the fire raged across the slopes. The 2003 Crowsnest fire burned 20,000 hectares and negatively impacted local businesses like gas stations and restaurants that depended on tourism. Salvaging burnt timber depends on the amount of root scorch and removal of burnt bark, while burnt areas can increase future ecological diversity by allowing rich undergrowth to develop.

2. A random fire that abruptly changed direction

3. The Fire then became out of control transforming into a giant wall of flame.August 23,2009Crowsnest Fire

4. Facts: The fire covered an area of six kilometres Reaching as high as fifty meters into the sky As the fire raged on, it whipped over the slopes, giving off energy every thirty minutes an equivalent of a atomic explosion Photo By: jcookfisher

5. Fire Directly affects local resident... Elaine Hruby recalls her terrifying experience of the fire. At 10:00 p.m. she was asked by the authorities to leave her home immediately and to seek safety from the fire. Frantically she collected personal treasures that she thought were important to save, along with her cat and dog. These included; her jewellery, a plastic Buddha, and her husbands coal miners lamp. Driving twenty kilometres west along the valley, she then stops to look at the fire raging over the slopes of Crowsnest Pass. Sitting on a rock ledge that over looks the valley at 1,359 metres high she continues to watch in horror. She recalls as she watched, she was hypnotized by the magnetic flames.

6. The Effects of the Crowsnest Businesses... 2003 Crowsnest fire burned 20,000 hectares of forest, not only affecting the timbers but local businesses as well Businesses as well as the tourism were hit hard such as the gas stations, restraunts and others The Spray Lake Sawmills will also use a significant amount burnt lumber 28% quota of the annual allowable salvage rights in the area will also salvage the lumber they can to save waste Photo by:Sam Beebe

7. Salvaging: A Lumber Perspective Salvaging solely depends upon the amount of root scorch Costs of salvage Burnt bark is not good Debarking the trees will keep chips clean and reduce the carbon control Photo By:creatingkoan

8. Pro and cons of Ecological Perspective,,, Burnt area can also create diversity over time Large stands of timber may inhibit undergrowth Burnt area can create ecological diversity which allows for the development of rich undergrowth which didn’t exist before