Bad year for forest fires

[R181]

The extended heat wave and lack of rainfall has created near perfect conditions for forest fires. I am almost sure this year will be one of the worst yet. All this while part of Europe have severe damage from flash flooding. Seems the rain is never in the right place at the right time this year.

Count the number of red dots to see how many forest fires classed out of control are burning in Canada now.

Canadian Wildland Fire Information System | Interactive map (nrcan.gc.ca)

Bob

 

[chrisbd]

It's a grim picture. I'm concerned for my elderly aunt in Victoria, although she made no mention of it in her last call a few weeks ago.

 

[R181]

It's a grim picture. I'm concerned for my elderly aunt in Victoria, although she made no mention of it in her last call a few weeks ago.

At least there are no forest fires burning on Vancouver Island so poor air quality from forest fires is likely not a concern there. The temperatures have cooled off since the heat wave they had end of June too. Hope that eases your mind a bit.

Bob

 

[chrisbd]

Bob,
Apologies for late catch-up. Yes, thanks, I'll rest easier knowing that.

Regards,
Chris

 

[R181]

It is official, this is the worst fire season on record.

As of July 21, 4,329 fires had burned 11,362,697 hectares (28,077,836 acres),[2] more than three percent of the entire forest area of Canada.[8] Of the 969 active wildfires, 610 were deemed "out of control".[9] International aid has helped reduce the impact of the fires.[10][11]

Taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_...st Fire,of the entire forest area of Canada.

Sadly, two fire fighters have also been killed. They were not foreign fire fighters coming to our aid.

Bob

 

[Bauhaus]

That’s absolutely terrible. I’m still confused a bit, how in an era of technology we still have such fire seasons. When I was studying in one program with my startup, there was a company in my batch that trying to solve this problem with a hardware devices. They called “Forest Guard”. I hope they can solve or help to solve this problem somehow.

 

[R181]

That’s absolutely terrible. I’m still confused a bit, how in an era of technology we still have such fire seasons. When I was studying in one program with my startup, there was a company in my batch that trying to solve this problem with a hardware devices. They called “Forest Guard”. I hope they can solve or help to solve this problem somehow.

Likely no real solutions as forests regenerate through forest fires for millennia. What has been changing is the weather with ever hotter temperatures, lack of rain and lightning storms. A dry spring all across the country set the stage for fire management to be overwhelmed. Normally you do not have the same weather conditions right across the country at the same time so you can concentrate fire management in one area and go to others that happen later. Also, more and more people are living in forested areas and also using forested for camping and hiking. That also increases the risk of fires starting. Unless people get smarter while they are using the forests and the current weather pattern due to climate change is not the norm in the future, we will continue to have this huge problem.

Bob

 

[donnie_arko]

They might not be as sizeable as their North American counterparts but there have been a few significant fires in Europe this summer.

I fear summers of such a nature will be normality from here on, or maybe they are already are.

 

[R181]

They might not be as sizeable as their North American counterparts but there have been a few significant fires in Europe this summer.

I fear summers of such a nature will be normality from here on, or maybe they are already are.

Yes, I have been watching what is happening in Europe regarding the weather conditions and the unusual number of significant fires there. Like here in Canada weather is part of the problem as are humans. I also fear that the current conditions are harbingers of what future weather will be like.

Even though the European fires are not as sizable as the ones in Canada they are as significant. You have to factor in the size of western Europe compared to Canada and the amount of forests we have as making the difference. That is to say it is equally terrible in both places.

Bob

 

[R181]

The weather is wacky. The Province of Nova Scotia which a couple of weeks ago was evacuating people due to forest fires is now doing the same thing because of flooding. The province got hit with a 200-250mm downpour in one day. If it is not one thing, it's another for poor old Nova Scotia. Last week it was the turn of the NE States in the US to get hit with similar huge downpours and flooding.

Bob