Abstract
Every year in Canada, thousands of people are evacuated from their homes and workplaces due to the threat of wildfire, and thousands more are put on evacuation alert. The wildland-urban interface refers to residential, industrial or agricultural developments that are located within or near forested or grassland areas. Each year, more and more Canadians live, work and play in these forested areas and therefore live with the threat of wildfire.
Evacuations are ordered for a number of reasons: danger to life and property, health risks and poor visibility due to smoke, and road closures preventing access to a community. The resulting disruptions to lives, businesses and transportation can have serious economic and social consequences; however, evacuations are essential to save lives and allow management personnel to do their jobs. No civilian lives have been lost due to wildfire in Canada since 1938. This map shows the number of persons evacuated due to wildfires during the period 1980 to 2003.
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