Documenting the Trail of the Huge Fire in Canada

An unusually large and hot fire has struck Alberta, Canada at an unusually early time of year. According to researchers, this is the new normal.

1 minute read

May 12, 2016, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

An image of the wildfire outside Fort, McMurray, Alberta on May 1, 2016. | Donny Ash / Shutterstock

Melody Rowell reports the news that shocks with the scale of its destruction: "An enormous wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, has displaced more than 80,000 people and destroyed an estimated 2,400 buildings, the majority of them homes."

While linking to many other examples of news coverage of the fire, the article for National Geographic is devoted to a series of photographs by Ian C. Bates.

Another recent article from the Associated Press puts the scale of the fire, which began on May 1, in historical context. According to that article, the fire in Alberta is just the latest example of larger and more extreme wildfires burning as a result climate change. The Associated Press also surveys the opinions and findings of researchers working on the subject.

FULL STORY: On the Ravaged Trail of Canada’s Monster Fire

Thursday, May 12, 2016 in National Geographic

Environment Alberta Fort McMurray Wildfire Fire Climate Change View More

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