The 2003 Crowsnest wildfires in Alberta burnt 20,000 hectares of forest over the course of a month. The fires reached heights of 50 meters and had the energy equivalent of an atomic bomb exploding every 30 minutes. While tourism businesses increased and unaffected businesses like dry cleaners and restaurants saw no change, timber and other forest-dependent industries decreased. Salvage logging rights were granted to local sawmills. The fires destroyed wildlife habitat but also led to richer undergrowth growth. Personal accounts documented people being forced to evacuate and homes burning as a result of the wildfires.

1. Crowsnest Fires Summer of 2003

2. The Facts Aug 21, 2003 - Seasonal wildfire erupted 6 km wall of fire reaching 50 m high Energy equivalent 1 atomic bomb = 30 min. of fire 20,000 ha of forest burnt

3. Effected Businesses Industry Decrease: Timber Tourism Industry Increase: Spray Lake Sawmills

4. Salvaging Lumber Spray Lake Sawmill has 28% annual allowable salvage rights

5. Uneffected Businesses Dry cleaners Restaurants Gas stations Offices

6. Ecology Pros Diversity Rich undergrowth Cons Blackened Forest life killed 1: Picture of a Balance

7. Personal Account Elaine Hrudy Forced to leave home as a result of the fires 2. Burning House Photograph

8. Footnotes 1. Obtained from Microsoft Powerpoint. (2008). 2. (2007, December 12). Getting on Like a House on Fire…!!. Message posted to http://kingmagic.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/