Fort McMurray - devastation by fire

[Hope]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36218996

I have watching the progress of this story and wondered whether this is the first time a city has been devastated by fire in the way it has been that was likely natural rather than caused by bombing or some other intentional source?  I a aware that arson that got far larger than could be anticipated has been mooted, but not much beyond just mooted.  Obviously, the Great Fire of London could be seen as a combination of both natural and 'man-made' as it wasn't deliberately started.

[Hope]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36218996

I have watching the progress of this story and wondered whether this is the first time a city has been devastated by fire in the way it has been that was likely natural rather than caused by bombing or some other intentional source?  I a aware that arson that got far larger than could be anticipated has been mooted, but not much beyond just mooted.  Obviously, the Great Fire of London could be seen as a combination of both natural and 'man-made' as it wasn't deliberately started.

Some of the latest images are somewhat reminiscent of Hiroshima.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36224767

[floo]

I don't think they have yet managed to establish whether this fire had a natural cause or was started deliberately.

[Hope]

I don't think they have yet managed to establish whether this fire had a natural cause or was started deliberately.

I'm aware of that, Floo - I noted it in my OP.  I'm jud surprised that no-one here seems that bothered by the events, whether caused naturally or otherwise

[floo]

I'm aware of that, Floo - I noted it in my OP.  I'm jud surprised that no-one here seems that bothered by the events, whether caused naturally or otherwise

I think they are devastating, and feel very sorry for they people involved.

[Rhiannon]

I'm aware of that, Floo - I noted it in my OP.  I'm jud surprised that no-one here seems that bothered by the events, whether caused naturally or otherwise

How do you know what people are bothered about?

[ippy]

How do you know what people are bothered about?

Probably in the same way that he's managed to gather the evidence he thinks he has proved the existance of this god figure of his.

ippy

[jeremyp]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36218996

I have watching the progress of this story and wondered whether this is the first time a city has been devastated by fire in the way it has been that was likely natural rather than caused by bombing or some other intentional source? 

I seriously doubt it. Why do you think it might be unusual?

[Hope]

How do you know what people are bothered about?

We've had threads on topics such as earthquakes, floods, and other disasters - natural or otherwise.  Was just surprised that there seemed to be no-one picking up on ths one.  Is there an element in this of disaster fatigue?

[Hope]

I seriously doubt it. Why do you think it might be unusual?

Just that I can't remember such an event being reported.  Yes, I know that parts of California and New South Wales have this kind of event pretty regularly, but seemingly never to this extent.

Probably in the same way that he's managed to gather the evidence he thinks he has proved the existance of this god figure of his.

That's precisely right, ippy; I've used observation combined with a bit of research which didn't produce any results.  Hence the question.

[Rhiannon]

We've had threads on topics such as earthquakes, floods, and other disasters - natural or otherwise.  Was just surprised that there seemed to be no-one picking up on ths one.  Is there an element in this of disaster fatigue?

I doubt it. Certainly not among anyone I've spoken to.

[Rhiannon]

Powerful footage here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36232856

[Hope]

TRhere is one picture in the 2nd link I gave of a completely burnt out area, with a single car sitting on a patch of tarmac totally unscathed  Imagine being in that car (thankfully, I get the impression no-one had been at the time)

[Rhiannon]

The videos that people filmed as they were trying to get out are very moving.

[Hope]

The videos that people filmed as they were trying to get out are very moving.

It may only be me, but I often get the impression that such pictures/videos are the more moving, because the pro. cameramen tend to get to the locations 'after the event' or have specific shots that their producers want them to capture.

[Rhiannon]

No, it's the panic and distress of the people in the cars that make the footage so powerful. The man trying to reassure his wife that they have their daughter and the cats and that her mother is in the car ahead, for example.

[ippy]

As I understand the last pictures were transmitted from a CCTV camera operating in a house where apparently the power hasn't go down yet so we could still see the fire starting to burn the house down.

ippy

[Gonnagle]

Dear Forum,

Did our Pow wow ( Johnny Canoe ) give any clue in his postings that he lives anywhere near this devastating fire.

Gonnagle.

[SweetPea]

Johnny, is ok Gonnagle. He lives in Calgary which is south of the Alberta province... Fort McMurray is in the north.