Aug. 2l, 2003, a wildfire got out of control. A 6-km wall of flame reached 50 m into the

sky. The fire was throwing off the energy

equivalent of a an atomic explosion every 30 minute.

Evacuation story◦ Elaine Hruby◦ I didn’t know what to take says Hruby, recalling her

anxious departure. You start doing crazy things. After putting her cat and dog in the car, she grabbed the lamp her husband once used as a miner, her jewelry (but not his) and a little plastic Buddha.

◦ Hruby then drove about 20 km west along the valley, sat down on a rock ledge overlooking1,359-m-high Crowsnest Pass and watched the flames veer down on Hillcrest. Despite her horror, she couldn’t stop looking. I felt masochistic, sitting on the outcropping, Hruby recalls. But those flames were like a magnet.

20 000 hectares of forest burned Fires affected many but not all businesses Spray lake sawmill

28% of the allowable salvage Salvage efforts depend upon the amount of root

scorch and the cost to pursue the salvage.

Ecological cons◦ Creates an area that looks devoid of life.

Ecological pros◦ Creates diversity ◦ Creates an opportunity for the growth of under

bush.

Image 1:◦ http://www.rocky-peak.com/photos/fire-kelowna.jpg

Image 2:◦ http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/13505/wm/pd1859682.jpg