52 pages • 1 hour read
John VaillantA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The official name of the May 2016 wildfire that decimated Fort McMurray is MWF-009 (McMurray Wildfire 009) since it was the district’s ninth major wildfire that year. Firefighters soon realized that this fire was different. Growing exponentially across thousands of acres, it steadily moved toward town. Mayor Melissa Blake announced a voluntary evacuation at 5:30 pm on May 1 but assured citizens that firefighters were creating firebreaks, or a “dirt moat” around the city, and doing everything possible to contain it, noting that the weather could make the firefight more challenging. High temperatures can create stronger winds, thus spreading fire more rapidly, and the area’s unseasonably warm weather encouraged the fire. By Mayor Blake’s side were Bernie Schmitte (the regional manager of the Wildfire Division of Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture) and Darby Allen (the municipal fire chief). They told the press and the citizens that while the fire was large and spreading quickly, the firefighters would likely keep it from reaching town. They exuded calm and confidence, which may have contributed to people’s lack of concern about the fire until it literally reached their doorsteps.
However, citizens of the nearby small town Slave Lake were more apprehensive.
By John Vaillant
Canadian Literature
View Collection
Climate Change Reads
View Collection
Earth Day
View Collection
Globalization
View Collection
National Book Awards Winners & Finalists
View Collection
Politics & Government
View Collection
Safety & Danger
View Collection
Science & Nature
View Collection
The Best of "Best Book" Lists
View Collection
Truth & Lies
View Collection