Uncertainty/ Limitations
The wildfire began on May 1, 2016, coincidentally the same day that Statistics Canada began collecting data for the 2016 census. Data collection resumed in the weeks after the evacuation order was lifted but destroyed records or homes may have skewed some of the census data.
The dissemination areas for Fort McMurray have changed significantly from 2001 to 2006 and may not be entirely accurate in the representation of median household income and dwelling density over time.
The multi-ring buffers around the three neighborhoods were placed around the border of the dissemination areas, and may not have coincided with the actual border where the urban area ended. This lack of preciseness may have impacted the analysis.
This analysis was performed on a macroscopic scale largely based on dissemination areas or entire neighborhoods. Many factors, on the level of an individual dwelling, may have impacted the spread and destruction of the wildfire but these were not included.
Future Studies
More work should be conducted on an individual level to determine the significance of vegetation on urban lots and how residents may have contributed to the destruction. In addition, it would be interesting to map and compare FireSmart levels in 2015 and in 2019 to see how the community has adapted after the devastating wildfire.