Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World

In the 2023 nonfiction book Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World, John Vaillant, a prominent science and nature journalist, examines the catastrophic 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. This nonfiction work, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, explores why climate change has disastrous effects on wildfires, turning them from a danger into a deadly threat to human existence. Climate change is exacerbated by carbon dioxide emissions from human petroleum use, and the demand for oil is of great significance to Fort McMurray, a community that grew exponentially to support bitumen processing plants. Bitumen processing is complex, releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and this was a key aspect in creating the conditions that fed the 2016 Fort McMurray fire.

This guide refers to the first edition of the book published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Content Warning: Fire Weather describes scenes of wildfire destruction, as well as related human fear, loss, and displacement. It contains vivid accounts of the catastrophes brought on by climate change, including descriptions and predictions of human suffering and the plight of animals.

Summary

Fire Weather centers on the catastrophic wildfire that struck Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, in May 2016. The book explores the myriad factors that led to the wildfire’s explosive growth and massive damage, as well as the broader implications of the disaster, and examines the connections between climate change, human activity, and the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.

Vaillant combines numerous personal stories of first responders and other survivors with extensive research to provide a detailed account of the events leading up to, during, and after the fire. He highlights the bravery and resilience of the people affected while also addressing the environmental and policy-related factors that contributed to the fire’s scale and severity.

On May 2, 2016, the fire known as MWF-009 started in the boreal forest surrounding the town of Fort McMurray. Although fires are a natural part of the boreal forest regeneration process, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from human-generated emissions led to the forest losing much of its natural moisture, transforming it into a tinder box. Without a healthy forest checking its progression, the wildfire was uncontainable, quickly growing into a deadly menace to the town.

The previously small town grew around massive plants for bitumen processing, a highly inefficient, multi-process form of extracting oil from sand that releases far more carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere than other types of fuel extraction. Full of young professionals looking to make money working for the oil companies, the town was surrounded by the forest, a dangerous building strategy that turned homes into ideal fuel for the growing forest fire.

Initially, town officials downplayed the fire, believing that their experienced and highly skilled firefighting teams could keep it away from the town. However, they quickly realized that this fire was not behaving like previous wildfires they had seen. Fueled by a warmer atmosphere and drier forest conditions, it quickly reached devastatingly high temperatures, creating its own weather systems. The firestorm’s strong winds distributed embers throughout the town, causing spot fires that erupted into massive blazes. Despite the immense danger, 88,000 people managed to evacuate the town in a single day, and none of the residents lost their lives or were even badly injured. This is a testament to their resilience and to the dedication of the firefighters who stayed behind. They were forced to use unconventional tactics to fight this new kind of fire, highlighting the changes that humans must make to adapt to a hotter world.

Vaillant delves into humanity’s use of fire throughout history and humans’ astonishing mastery over fire, which the combustion engine and the extraction of highly flammable petroleum from the ground represent. This mastery comes at a steep cost, however. Although scientists warned about carbon-emission-related climate change from 1896 onward, oil companies minimized and obfuscated the research in order to maximize profits. Now, as the effects of climate change become undeniable and deadly, the possibility is increasingly remote that humanity can reverse its effects in time to prevent runaway warming on the planet. In light of this, Vaillant proposes that humanity’s species name change from Homo sapiens, or “wise man,” to Homo flagrans, or “burning man.”

Fire Weather not only tells the story of the Fort McMurray fire but also provides a warning about the growing risks posed by climate change and the urgent need for action to mitigate these dangers. Through his vivid storytelling and thorough analysis, Vaillant offers a compelling look at one of the most significant disasters in recent Canadian history.