Slave Lake Alta Fire Consumes 40% of Buildings in Town

raybrag

raybrag

Joined
Apr 1, 2007
Messages
3,993
A large wildfire burning through the forests of Alberta roared into the town of Slave Lake (population 7000)  yesterday and has burned through 40% of the buildings in town, including the Town Hall.  Communities from all over Alberta (including 100 firefighters and 8 engines from Calgary) are sending firefighters and equipment to assist in fighting the blaze.  Latest info says hundreds more have been called from as far away as British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario.  The Alberta Premier (Equivalent of Governor) said today:  "?We?ve got about 100 helicopters working on fires, 20 water bombers, a number of other spotter planes and that sort of thing. We think there?s an availability from B.C. of five additional water bombers." More info, pictures & video here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504943_162-20063278-10391715.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsGamecore+(GameCore%3A+CBSnews.com)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213508697703622607045.0004a36a66b616f955b50&ll=55.279209,-114.767899&spn=6.229964,20.10498&output=embed
 
grumpy grizzly

grumpy grizzly

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
3,373
This fire reminds me of the Chelsea, Mass fire of October 14, 1973. Chelsea was a town which consisted mainly of three story tennements, just like East Boston. The primary industries were rag re-cycling, and low level metal manufacturing. This part of the city was plagued with low level or out of service hydrants. At 3:56 Chelsea received Box 215, 3rd and Arlington st, four blocks away from the scene of the fire. Responding companies were met by a wall of fire which overwheled them. The day was warm and windy, rainfall was scant during this period. The strong winds quickly escalated this fire to one of conflagration status. 67 Massachusetts departments responded to this fire. Extinguishment of building fires was out of the question, all efforts were on containment. They made the decision to stop the fire at the Williams school, if they failed the fire would have continued unabated to the Mystic River. Boston sent Engines 5, 36, 11, 27, 9, 6, 39, 10, 26, 33, 8, 15, Ladders 21 and 22. This fire occurred during Fire Prevention Week, the start of this fire was 200 yards away from the start of the great 1908 conflagration.Buffed this job with my first wife, unbeleivable amount of fire. 8)
 
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