The roaring inferno in and around Fort McMurray is now so big only Mother Nature can stop it.
"Let me be clear, air tankers are not going to stop this fire," Morrison said. "This is an extreme fire event. It's going to continue to push through these dry conditions until we actually get some significant rain to help us.
And while the debate continues over whether this apocalyptic monster is the direct result of climate change.
What cannot be denied is that climate change is not only responsible for more forest fires, it's also changing they way they behave.
As these firefighters in Colorado are discovering as they battle what they are calling the infernos of climate change.
You know, climate change is already affecting so many things in our world. But many of them are hidden from the view of most people.
Like the methane gas bubbling out from under the melting permafrost in Alaska and Siberia. Or the bleaching of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef.
Let's hope that for Canadians at least, the inferno threatening to consume Fort McMurray, will serve as a final warning.
Or we take climate change seriously, and do more to fight it.
Or it will consume us...
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People of many faiths support action to reduce the impact of climate change:
ReplyDeleteFaith at the Climate Change March
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2014/09/25/september-25-2014-climate-change-faith-community/24216/
We all need to be good stewards of the earth/environment:
eg. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15)
Climate change is real, alright!
"The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire." (Revelation 16:8)
"On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea."-- Jesus, in Luke 21:25 (rising sea levels?)
Whether we care to admit it or not, climate change is and has effected us all personally. I almost lost a beloved horse last summer from heat exhaustion. Sign of the times. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to all from Fort Mac and their beloved pets <3
TS
There are ads in many place--even liquor stores--encouraging Canadians to donate to a special Red Cross fund for the good folks of Fort McMurray.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard of any oil & gas companies donating money to this Red Cross fund?
No. I was wondering about the Koch Brothers. They have leases on huge areas of northern Alberta. Perhaps they could spare some of their billions to help out.
ReplyDeleteI think they handed out water, camps, a few airlifts but I have not seen any substantial $$$$$ handed back to Fort Mac for their loyalty!!!!! I am sure that if these GREEDY oil companies do donate they will be looking for a tax deduction donation from the Feds. Another issue, all of Canada is trying to reach out to Fort Mac but it would seem that many residents of Fort Mac are more interested in blaming the NDP and posting ignorant posts on social media rather than thank Canadians all across Canada for their support. One even went so far as to blame Notley for the fire!!!!!!! Another indicated that anyone who voted NDP should be shot!!!!!!!! Calling NDP MP's "assholes" etc...... Yep, lots of class there Fort Mac. Maybe they should put some of the blame on their employers for raping their land and adding to climate change in their own neighbourhood just for their own moral depleted, ignorant, self serving GREED. I guess that is what happened when you sell your soul to foreign corporations who could give a rats behind about Canada!!!!! or better still, lay the blame on the prior CON government who sold their land out to foreign investment.
ReplyDeletethese types of forest fires have happened over the centuries. They can be started by lightening but now there are people living where there once weren't. It makes for a big problem. Has climate change made things worse. Most likely. There is however a lot we can do though to midegate the effects of these fires.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the Kelowna fire in 2003, a report was written by a former Premier, who was also an engineer. If I recall correctly it was Gary Filman. Anyhow the report was excellent and laid out a blue print for the path forward on how to avoid these types of fires.
Laila Yuile's blog in B.C. had a post on the subject, which included that the provincial government of B.C. has only done the required work on 63K acres, leaving the rest undone. We now have fires in Fort St. John and Fort Nelso, the high way had to be closed between the two towns. B/C. Lieberals did not spend any real money implementing the report. Now we get to live with it all.
The fire in Fort McMurray, jumped highways and rivers. What will be necessary later is to look at what can be done to minimize the impact of forest fires on communities. This may include ensuring there are huge fire breaks around towns in forested areas, irrigation sytems around towns and what homes ought to be built with as has been done in California.
In the meantime all we can do is help those who are displaced.