Have you seen flames fast approaching across the mountains? Click here: Approaching Flames.
In hot weather conditions, it’s essential to have safety checks for road closures related to your area to avoid fires, etc. When engaging in outdoor activities, please always practice fire safety and ensure that fires are fully extinguished to prevent potential hazards.
Get in touch with us for free pre-mediation, counselling and support. Read more at 2023FireSeason
Scorching Heat
Canada has experienced scorching heat! For example, areas like Lyton and Chilliwack in British Columbia have been facing challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching as high as 96.2 degrees Fahrenheit (35.9 degrees Celsius), as reported by Global News. Read Simon Little’s article titled “33 heat records shattered in B.C. amid unseasonable heat wave”. In 2021, Lyton, B.C. reached a staggering temperature of 121.28 degrees Fahrenheit (49.6 degrees Celsius), as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Nicole Mortillaro in another article titled “If you think summer was hotter than usual, you’re right.” Lyton, later experienced a devastating fire.
Trees can help to lessen the impacts of droughts and erosion, but some coniferous trees might increase fire risk due to excessive sap. One of the highlights of Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island is the short loop trail that takes visitors through a breathtaking forest of towering trees; some are over eight centuries old. These trees are a testament to how fires can lead to new growth and demonstrate the danger they can pose to people and the planet. The younger trees at Cathedral Grove grew after a fire about three centuries ago. Fire-damaged and falling trees could be hazardous to both residents and visitors. Borders could be closed to contain fires and to increase public safety.
Closed Borders
Australia needed to close state borders because of the devastating impact of fire, water shortages and extreme heat. Australian and other knowledge and experiences can be valuable to other countries, such as Canada, which faces heightened fire risk and water scarcity during intense summers with record-high temperatures. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s June 20, 2023, message titled “Environment and Climate Change Canada presents the 2023 summer weather outlook” highlights the challenges Canada and many other nations face from uncontrolled fires. The effects of fire include but are not limited to damaged or killed flora and fauna, inadequate water, choking smoke, etc.
During uncontrolled fires, highways are closed off, and the maritime sector may need to bring supplies. The importance of shipping in global trade and relief efforts, including those responding to fires, cannot be overstated. Australian workers in the Outback have developed effective water cooling techniques to mitigate heat hazards for equipment such as combustion engines, power stations, and Central Processing Units. Australians are all too familiar with the devastation fires can cause, as they live on the driest inhabited continent in the world. To learn more about this issue, check out the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s 2021 publication “Outback Australia – the Rangelands.” They caution about lighting fires under limestone overhangs in coastal areas, which are often unstable.
Helping Hands from the International Community
Wong, a reporter with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, covered the story of the international firefighters, including from Australia, who came to Canada during its worst wildfire season in a century. Canada is receiving support from firefighters from Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, France, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, and the United States.
International volunteers are battling smoky conditions to help put out flames in times of need. During an interview on June 17, 2023, Wong spoke with Andrew Stewart, a firefighter from South Australia.
To see an image from South Australia and other parts of this continent, see South Australia + Stewart arrived in Canada on June 8, 2023. He brought his experience as a volunteer firefighter since the age of 16 to help address, for example, a fierce fire near Edson, Alberta.
Some people live underground at Coober Pedy to escape the harsh sun’s rays and the biting cold of desert evenings during the winter. When underground at Coober Peedy, you can expect a relatively comfortable temperature of 23-25 degrees Celsius (about 73.4 to 75.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Living underground may have historical roots to service members who served in the trenches with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (“ANZACS”) during World War I.
You may learn more about volunteer firefighters and their countries, including trading partners like Australia and the United States. Check out Wong’s (CBC) article “Meet the International Firefighters Battling Canada’s Worst Wildfire Season in a Century,” published on June 17, 2023.
Our interconnected planet faces common challenges, such as fire and other impacts linked to global warming. It is promising when diverse voices, including those of local and international firefighters, can compare and contrast different regions and experiences. For example, fire reduction or prevention and eco-friendly practices can be extended with inclusive discussions at various entry points ranging from those directly impacted by fire to first responders, conservationists, and social and physical scientists.
References
Little, S. (May 2023). 33 heat records shattered in B.C. amid unseasonable heat wave. Global News.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2021). Outback Australia – the Rangelands.
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (2023). Environment and Climate Change Canada presents the 2023 summer weather outlook.
Wong, J. (June 2023). Meet the International Firefighters Battling Canada’s Worst Wildfire Season in a Century.
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