Fire Pumps In the 1850s, early portable pumps for firefighting were large pumps on wheels that would be pulled by horses to a water source near the fire, allowing firefighters to access water and use it as a reliable fire suppression system. This method was effective but had its difficulties. Eventually, the horses were replaced […]
Historic Flooding in BC The recent historic flooding in British Columbia that resulted in multiple fatalities, destruction of major highways, and the total flooding of the communities of both Abbotsford and Merritt, have left the province devastated. The flooding and mudslides this year feel to many like a shocking coincidence after a summer of intense […]
You may have heard of firefighters starting “controlled burns” during wildfire season in order to help fight forest fires. Many people hear this and wonder how it’s possible to make a wildfire less dangerous by intentionally burning more fuel, but controlled burning is actually a very effective way of controlling wildfire, when done correctly and […]
Population Loss Larger mammals like deer and bears generally have a low mortality rate when it comes to forest fires, because they are able to move quickly to another location when a fire begins. Burrowing animals are also not impacted greatly because they are able to stay protected underground. Small mammals like mice and voles […]
When a major, intense wildfire occurs, it has a major impact on the environment of that area well after the fire is out. Here is what the environmental response to a forest fire looks like. CO2 Wildfires emit a large amount of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Globally, wildfires contribute about 10% of the […]