Wildfire 2023

Nothing sizeable/comparable to Lahaina has burned in the NWT - Maui is looking at $6 billion in damage and 1,000 people missing - I suspect they are evacuating NWT out of an abundance of caution since their communities are all a far distance apart and with limited highway options out.

There’s only two roads south to get out of the territory and only one of them is a paved highway - and there’s no mountains around anywhere just lakes and rivers and then endless forest to the horizon in every direction for hundreds if not a thousand miles.

I think $6B is low.

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Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

22 new fires on the Klamath NF yesterday. And the Head fire there is taking off in super-rugged country.

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Bunch of firefighters hoping they get sent anywhere but Happy Camp right now.

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Originally Posted by oldnew_guy

Bunch of firefighters hoping they get sent anywhere but Happy Camp right now.

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Heh. Memories of ‘87.

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Originally Posted by bodywhomper

I’m thinking that the debris removal and rebuilding, especially the re-establishment of underground infrastructure, in Lahaina could essentially become one large archaeological dig, which can take awhile. Is it going to be similar with those communities that will need to rebuild in NWT? I know regulations are different.

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As Benny said, not likely in NWT, but there are always local sites that could be impacted by rebuilding. Indigenous in the area followed the caribou extensively, so arch sites would be scattered where topography dictated caribou movement, mostly rivers which move and flood over time.

Not the same situation in the rebuilding of Lytton. That was a permanent indigenous settlement, and both fed and prov heritage laws will dictate the pace of remediation and rebuilding. I think the actual groundwork in Lytton is just starting, after over 2yrs.

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Originally Posted by oldnew_guy

Bunch of firefighters hoping they get sent anywhere but Happy Camp right now.

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There’s also about 1000 acres in Smith River area burning now too. Highway 199 closed in places.
And another one just west of Hoopa reservation.
All in some really rugged country.

Fun fact - there’s a section in that area that’s less than 640 acres. Apparently much of the first survey of that area was done from a bar.

It must be quite the operation to evacuate Yellowknife’s hospital, long term care facilities, jail inmates etc. It’s a 12 hour drive to the closest city Grand Prarie or a 2 hour flight to Edmonton. It’s not like the hospitals/LTC facilities and jails in those places are going to have lots of empty beds sitting unused either.

apparently all the hotels/ motels in GP or anywhere up there are already full of people who evacuated so duno where they are gona put em

Last report on CBC said that Leduc has opened a receiving centre. Close to the airport, so maybe more for those being flown in perhaps? Military is helping as well, so perhaps they will be in charge of moving the incarcerated folk. But ya, massive logistics in moving that many people so far away in such a short time.

Dang, 20,000 to be evac'd from Yellowknife. I thought I also heard a stat something like 2/3 of Northwest Territory being displaced. Jebus.

Southern BC may be in for its next Holy Shit moment.

Winds gusting to 60 plus dry lightning

Temps in mid to high 30s

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-45_metric_e.html

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Originally Posted by LHutz Esq

Southern BC may be in for its next Holy Shit moment.

Winds gusting to 60 plus dry lightning

Temps in mid to high 30s

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-45_metric_e.html

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Yup.
Attachment 467662

This photo is just crazy to me...
Attachment 467663
Like how does that even happen a few feet from the ocean with no other fuel sources nearby. The heat from the fire must have been immense.

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Originally Posted by bodywhomper

I think $6B is low.

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Yeah, no way it is $6b. Maybe $6b in pure property, but that still seems low considering what rebuilding costs are going to look like--but add in all the other economic/non-economic damages and that number is going to blow up. Business interruption/lost wages, emergency services, smoke & soot on undamaged structures, meals & housing, personal effects, vehicles, cleanup costs, etc.

I don't think most people who have never been close to a blow up or fire storm can comprehend the utter destruction. Looks like Hiroshima the week after and yes, 6B is way low. I also wonder how well the insurance companies will handle this and how many lacked insurance in the first place.

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Originally Posted by LHutz Esq

Southern BC may be in for its next Holy Shit moment.

Winds gusting to 60 plus dry lightning

Temps in mid to high 30s

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-45_metric_e.html

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Was just going to post that! Smoke is really bad in Vernon right now, tried going for a walk last night and felt funny within 5 minutes. Hope West Kelowna makes it out ok today, the fire chief was on CBC this morning and it sounded like he was going to cry.

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Originally Posted by el hefe

Was just going to post that! Smoke is really bad in Vernon right now, tried going for a walk last night and felt funny within 5 minutes. Hope West Kelowna makes it out ok today, the fire chief was on CBC this morning and it sounded like he was going to cry.

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We sent one of our engines and crew down yesterday.

I just came back from family vacation time so couldn't make this one

Never know till it happens- but not looking good.

Be safe everyone.

The logistics for evacuations in NWT sounds crazy. I hope there’s a lesson learned for better planning for this type of stuff.

Here’s an interesting article about the current Maui Disaster Administrator and his qualifications. https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/08/wa...over-his-head/

I bet a major hurdle in the NWT evac is that the town of Fort Smith got evacuated first because of an approaching fire.

Then later a different fire caused the evacuation of the town of Hay River - also forcing thousands south along the same route as Fort Smith residents traveled.

Then a different fire causes the evacuation of Yellowknife.

All these people (and inmates, long term care residents, hospital patients etc) all were evacuated at different times into Alberta - must be a logistical nightmare to coordinate.

Plus all the other remote areas of the territory that depend on Yellowknife having a functioning airport both for getting to and from your home community but also for food and supplies.

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Originally Posted by LHutz Esq

We sent one of our engines and crew down yesterday.

I just came back from family vacation time so couldn't make this one

Never know till it happens- but not looking good.

Be safe everyone.

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still you managed to get away to clear some bike trail blow down and we thank you for that !

gotta offset the shame of being a lawyer

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Originally Posted by XXX-er

still you managed to get away to clear some bike trail blow down and we thank you for that !

gotta offset the shame of being a lawyer

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As I am sure you will agree- there is something soothing and good for the soul about running a saw for a bit.

Def should have brought out the big boy on that one. My baby saw was outgunned muchly by that chonker!

Little Beaver for the win!
Attachment 467666

Just a firefighter with a lawyering problem!

I didnt see it but must have been a big one, good job counselor !

I got that stem over on deep bluff with my folder

edit: they are sayin the next few days could be a tough go due to weather

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Originally Posted by Bunion 2020

I don't think most people who have never been close to a blow up or fire storm can comprehend the utter destruction. Looks like Hiroshima the week after and yes, 6B is way low. I also wonder how well the insurance companies will handle this and how many lacked insurance in the first place.

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Seems like part of the shock is due to the heat not going upwards but instead going horizontally with the wind, and really fast - like 1 mile per minute fast.

Still no wind in the Okanagan. I think it will hit later then they thought, like tonight. Prob not a good thing to happen in the middle of the night?

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Originally Posted by PB

Seems like part of the shock is due to the heat not going upwards but instead going horizontally with the wind, and really fast - like 1 mile per minute fast.

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Yeah, 60 mph+ winds and plenty of flashy fuels. A fire hurricane.

The real bitch is just how far Hawaii is down the supply chain and how far down the chain from there Maui is.

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Originally Posted by PB

Seems like part of the shock is due to the heat not going upwards but instead going horizontally with the wind, and really fast - like 1 mile per minute fast.

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Don’t forget those winds blowing embers and firebrands way out beyond the flame front, and then holding those things against buildings and/or up into eaves and overhangs and stuff til they catch.

Sounds like NWT is fuct, and BC is in trouble.