News and opinion about wildland fire
After burning for about 18 months
Alberta Wildfire posted the above on November 3, 2020.
The Chuckegg Creek Fire in the northwest part of the province burned 820,000 acres according to Wikipedia. It apparently burned for about 18 months. Fires burning in heavy fuels can sometimes continue smoldering in roots or stump holes under a blanket of snow throughout the winter, then emerge in the spring or summer.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized17 Comments on Chuckegg Creek Fire in Alberta grows to over half a million acres Will it become a million-acre “gigafire”?
The Chuckegg Creek Fire in Northern Alberta near the town of High Level was very active over the last 48 hours while being pushed by strong winds. Exhibiting extreme fire behavior, it grew to the south about 11 miles, and while moving 12 miles to the east it crossed Highway 35 and jumped the Peace River both north and south of the ferry crossing on Highway 697.
Alberta Wildfire estimated it has burned 230,000 hectares, or 568,000 acres.
Below is an excerpt from an update by Alberta Wildfire about the Chuckegg Creek Fire, issued May 30, 2019:
The Chuckegg Creek Fire experienced extreme fire behaviour yesterday with significant growth to the south towards Paddle Prairie, across Highway 35 by Highway 697 and spotted across the Peace River. Continued hot and dry conditions along with variable, gusty winds have proved a challenge to firefighting efforts and safety. Municipal firefighters and heavy equipment responded, with structure protection established as possible to the south of the fire. The fire also experienced growth to the west and continued fire activity on the north part of the fire around Watt Mountain.
Firefighters, heavy equipment, and aircraft are assessing the situation given the recent fire growth and will focus on priority areas. Structural protection and municipal firefighters are working to protect values. The weather forecast today anticipates cooler temperatures and higher minimum relative humidity, though winds today are expected to remain gusty and are expected to come primarily from the north.
I believe that the fire started during the week of May 12. It reached the 100,000-acre threshold to become a “megafire” on May 20. Now that it has easily grown to 568,000 acres, I wonder if it will reach a million acres to become a “gigafire”. A bushfire that started October 11, 2018 in Western Australia 120km southeast of Broome burned 880,000 hectares, or 2,174,527 acres.
The weather for the next seven days at the fire’s location will be variable, with a chance of rain on Saturday, Monday, and Thursday of next week, so there will not be many days conducive to explosive fire growth.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Satellite photo showing the three major fires active in Northern Alberta This satellite photo taken at 5:40 p.m. MDT April 28 shows the locations of three major wildfires in Northern Alberta. The imagery was enhanced to enhanced to show the heat generated by the active fires.
As predicted, the wind on Tuesday was out of the west which made the east sides of the fire more active than they had been in recent days. As you can see in the photo large amounts of smoke are flowing off to the east. Click here to see an analysis and map of wildfire smoke in North America today.
The northern-most fire identified on the map is a relatively new blaze, known as “066”. Alberta Wildfire said Tuesday afternoon, “[The fire] is approximately 6 km west of Highway 35 near Steen River. Highway 35 North of High Level is closed due to smoke – monitor Alberta511 for updated highway conditions.”
Update: Highway 35 CLOSED approximately 7 km north of Steen River, north of High level due to wildfire. Southbound traffic will be held in Enterprise – North West Territories and Northbound traffic will be held in High Level. (3:49pm) #ABRoads https://t.co/fPMAgLqR2A
— 511 Alberta (@511Alberta) May 28, 2019
The air quality in the town of High Level, Alberta has reached dangerous levels.
I have never seen levels like this for PM2.5. High Level AB is in serious trouble. pic.twitter.com/Vn2TUAlH3M
— Dr. Michael D Mehta (@MichaelMehta) May 28, 2019
Compare two satellite images
These May 26 images from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite were processed by Jess Clark of the Forest Service Geospatial Technology and Applications Center. They highlight the northern portion of the Chuckegg Creek Fire in Northern Alberta that has burned 130,000 hectares (321,000 acres).
In an article yesterday, May 27, we posted a low-resolution satellite image of the fire in which we pointed out shadows cast by towering pyrocumulus clouds over areas that were burning intensely. These photos that Mr. Clark sent are more zoomed in and have higher resolution.
The photo we posted yesterday and the one above utilize the bands of light that are visible to the naked eye and are what you would see if you were flying over the fire 50 miles above the ground.
The false color image below uses bands that minimized the appearance of smoke, enhanced water vapor in the pyrocumulus, and highlighted heat from the fire.
Mr. Clark explained the utility of these images:
“This really highlights just how important multispectral imaging is for those of us interested in seeing fire effects and extent on the ground. The National Infrared Operations Program (NIROPS) maps fire extent on a tactical basis with much higher resolution aerial imagery, but there are occasions when this space-based data helps corroborate or clarify the data NIROPS interpreters couldn’t see. Our main use of imagery like what I’ve attached is for severity mapping after the fire’s out to aid emergency response teams (BAER) in their mitigation planning efforts. It’s also used by the silviculture folks as they plan reforestation efforts, if appropriate.”
The Chuckegg Creek Fire has burned more than a quarter-million acres
(Originally published at 10:15 a.m. MDT May 27, 2019)
The Chuckegg Creek Fire in northern Alberta has burned more than a quarter-million acres just west of the town of High Level. Alberta Wildfire announced Sunday that they estimate it has grown to 107,000 hectares, or 264,000 acres. (UPDATE at 2:38 p.m. MDT May 27: Alberta Fire now says the fire has burned 127,000 hectares [314,000 acres – almost one-third of a million].)
(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Chuckegg Creek Fire, including the most recent, click here.)
Dry conditions and the lack of recent precipitation has caused the blaze to grow significantly on Sunday. Pushed by a wind out of the west, large pyrocumulus clouds formed over the fire north of Highway 58 casting shadows that could be seen in the satellite photo below.
The weather forecast for Monday calls for moderate south and southeast winds which should cause most of the spread to be on the west and northwest sides, but Tuesday and Wednesday should bring stronger winds out of the west and northwest along with humidities in the 20s. The high temperature will be 91F (33C) on Tuesday. If the fuels north of highway 58 and northwest of High Level are conducive to burning, the fire could grow closer to the town under those conditions.
Below are excerpts from a Sunday evening update by Alberta Wildfire:
Today’s weather conditions led to increased wildfire activity. Extreme fire behaviour was observed on the north and west sides of the fire, away from the town. The weather also created challenges along the established fire guard. Wildfire and Structural firefighters were active on controlling hotspots along the fire perimeter in the priority areas around High Level. Airtankers worked today to drop fire retardant to reinforce the fire guard that heavy equipment and firefighters placed to protect the community and infrastructure.
The weather forecast tomorrow expects a cold front to arrive, bringing dry conditions and variable winds. This forecast will produce extreme fire behaviour conditions again tomorrow for firefighters.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Firefighters working to protect town of High Level The Chuckegg Creek Fire in Northern Alberta has burned more than 241,000 acres (97,600 hectares)
For several days firefighters have been conducting a firing operation to protect the town of High Level, Alberta. The Chuckegg Creek Fire has primarily spread to the northwest but the east flank of the blaze has moved closer to the community of 3,159 residents.
The burning operation is southwest of the town, using Highways 58 and 35 as anchors.
(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Chuckegg Creek Fire, including the most recent, click here.)
Alberta Wildfire personnel in conjunction with municipal firefighting resources and air support from helicopters and air tankers continue to focus containment efforts around the fire perimeter south of High Level. With current weather conditions firefighters have been effective due to lighter winds out of the northeast. This aids crews protecting power line poles west and south of the Town. The main direction of spread remains away from town. That is expected to change Sunday when the winds will be out of the south, southwest, and northwest accompanied by warmer temperatures, 80F (27C). .
Heavy equipment has been working on the northeast side of the fire and continues to make progress consolidating a line around the fire perimeter. They have built approximately eight kilometers of containment line.
The High Level Fire Department and other municipal firefighters have completed structure protection on the southwest and northwest sides of the community. In addition, structural protection is complete on Mackenzie County homes southeast of High Level, Tolko and Norbord.
