Drilled Drilling Deep: John Vaillant on the Climate-Fire Nexus
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Jan 12, 2026 Join John Vaillant, a captivating author and journalist, as he delves into the harrowing realities of fire and climate. He discusses the devastating 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, revealing how extreme conditions fueled its ferocity. Vaillant highlights the environmental destructiveness of tar sands and the influence of Alberta's oil politics. He shares tales of community solidarity during evacuation and the challenges faced by firefighters. Reflecting on the emerging 'Pyrocene' era, he emphasizes the urgent need for a global energy transition.
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When A City Disappeared Under A Fire Cloud
- John Vaillant dropped his novel when Fort McMurray vanished under a 40,000-foot pyrocumulonimbus cloud and began reporting the event.
- He describes cars streaming out on the single road and days of not knowing who remained inside the city.
Tar Sands Are 'Fire In A Bottle'
- Tar sands are bitumen-soaked sand that must be mined and heated with vast natural gas to become liquid fuel.
- Vaillant calls the product one of the least efficient and most environmentally destructive petroleum sources on Earth.
Petroleum Hub Consumed By Its Own Emissions
- Fort McMurray is a major CO2 emitter because diluted bitumen exports flow south to refineries at enormous scale.
- Vaillant highlights the irony of a petroleum hub being overtaken by a climate-enhanced wildfire it helped drive.
