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Understanding Wildfires

Updated: Jan 22, 2022

By Avanthika, Miriam Achu Rony and Shikha Kadyan


What is a Wildfire?


via The New York Times


A wildfire is an unintentional fire that breaks out in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. It's a big, uncontrollable fire that burns and quickly spreads across vast swaths of landscape. A wildfire can be classed as a forest fire, brush fire, bushfire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire depending on the kind of vegetation present. Wildfires can start spontaneously, but they are frequently started by humans, with disastrous effects. Experts estimate that around 90% of wildfires are caused by human negligence.


Certain naturally occurring wildfires are crucial for the continued survival of particular plant species, despite the fact that they burn trees. Fires, however contradictory it may appear, actually benefit the forest. Wildfires have a crucial role in nature, despite the fact that they can be destructive and even lethal to humans. For example, some tree cones need to be heated before they open and release their seeds; chaparral plants, which include manzanita, chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), require fire before seeds will germinate. While wildfires are necessary and beneficial to many plants, climate change has made some ecosystems more vulnerable to fires. Extremely dry conditions, such as drought, and high winds enhance the risk of wildfires. The ancient practice of extinguishing all fires has resulted in an unnatural accumulation of plants and trash, which can feed larger and more violent fires.


Wildfires require three components known as the fire triangle: A heat source, fuel and oxygen. Sunlight, a scorching bolt of lightning, or a smouldering match can all provide enough heat to start a fire. When gasoline or other combustible material is present, the spark transforms into flames. Wildfires are commonly fueled by dry, dead grasses, leaves, and trees, but they can also be fueled by living vegetation, known as green fuels. When exposed to a heat source, combustible oils in pine trees and other evergreens can ignite. The ensuing flame feeds and lives on oxygen while the fuel burns. Not only does air movement and wind provide extra oxygen to the fire, but it also helps transport and spread the flames. Because wildfires burn in the open air, they have access to an almost limitless supply of oxygen from the atmosphere.


via Redzone


Topography also plays a role: flames burn faster uphill than they do downhill.

via Spectrum News


Although wildfires occur worldwide, they are most common in the western United states.


Causes of Wildfire :


Natural:

  • Lightning is responsible for the great majority of naturally occurring wildfires. Lightning can generate enough heat to ignite a tree or other fuel source when it strikes. In an ordinary year, lightning strikes are responsible for nearly 60% of wildfires in the province.

  • The hot, dry conditions required for fires to erupt can be created by a warming environment and weather patterns such as El Nino.

  • Other factors that could create natural wildfires include rock fall, meteorites, volcanoes, and coal seam fires, depending on the situation.

Human-made :


  • Unattended campfires can quickly spiral out of control, resulting in huge wildfires.

  • One of the most prevalent sources of wildfires is embers that escape from burning trash. Escaped embers can travel for miles without extinguishing on a particularly windy day.

  • Wildfires are frequently caused by people dropping burning items such as cigarettes, pipes, or matches.

  • When fireworks are not launched in the proper location, they might cause wildfires.

  • The drying of organic matter in forests is accelerated by climate change (the material that burns and spreads wildfire). Climate change, according to research, results in warmer, drier circumstances. Drought and a longer fire season are contributing to the rise in wildfire risk. We are all aware of how human activities contribute to global warming and thus climate change.


Effect on Environment and Human - Animal Health and Habitats


We should be aware that wildfires are a regular component of the forest's cycle and rejuvenation process in a broad sense. The recent enormity, on the other hand, is horrifying and serves as a reminder to be wary of the alarming incidents of wildfires reported around the world. Recent accounts of the Amazon Wildfire in the last three years remind us of the urgent need to develop a reflex whenever the scenario requires it. Thousands of flames had burnt over 7600 square kilometres by October of 2019, and the trend had persisted in subsequent years. The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, covers more than 8 million square kilometres, and is home to an incredible quantity of species.


As the rainforest loses biomass due to deforestation, it loses its ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere and liberate an incalculable amount of carbon through combustion, resulting in poor air quality and, eventually, health issues. Wherever human encroachment occurs, these damaging actions can result in quick extinctions and a catastrophic loss of species richness. It has a variety of effects on natural vegetation and fauna. Trees that took decades or even hundreds of years to grow are now extinct. Many animals died, and those who survived struggled to find a suitable forest and food, forcing them to depart the area.

via National Geographic


Wildfires could potentially hasten the emergence of new human diseases. When large-scale wildfires occur, massive amounts of smoke are emitted into the atmosphere. Because the particles in this smoke are so small, our bodies have a hard time filtering them out of our lungs. As a result, our eyes may get irritated and congested. People with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular problems should exercise extreme caution because there is an increased risk of serious health problems during a wildfire.

via Climate Central


Wildfires can also affect the water quality of streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs for years and even decades following a catastrophic fire. It is not sustainable to rebuild towns or have such vast forest areas turn to ash every year. Therefore it is the need of the hour to consider the future of this planet.


Case Study: Dixie Fire, California

The Dixie Fire was a massive wildfire in California's Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama Counties. On July 13, 2021, the fire started and scorched 963,309 acres before being completely suppressed on October 25, 2021. Drought ravaged the terrain from California to Canada, and high summer temperatures exacerbated by climate change left vegetation tinder-dry, with low humidity and strong winds, escalating the risk of conflagration. Eight firestorms, huge plumes, and pyro-clouds resulted from the Dixie fire. Thousands were evicted from their houses, numerous structures were demolished, and the majority of the Golden Rush-era community was swallowed up. Greenville and Canyondom were among the towns devastated by the wildfire.

via The Washington Post


Smoke from the Dixie fire travelled south and east, carrying a variety of pollutants like as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), resulting in poor air quality across the Western United States. PM2.5 and ultrafine particles were the main pollutants discovered in smoke, which cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and other heart and lung disorders. The level of tiny airborne particles (PM2.5) in Salt Lake City surged to more than three times the federal guideline on August 6, causing the city to momentarily have the worst air quality in the world. The Dixie Fire resulted in the most costly firefighting campaign in California history (the cost of firefighting had surpassed $610 million by mid October).

Measures to Reduce Wildfires


Seasons of intense wildfire are becoming longer and harsher, spreading over national borders and increasing in frequency, severity, and scale. In order to respond to such an unpredicted and devastating event, the government must be on its toes in order to take critical steps to mitigate wildfire's effects. Listed below are some measures:

  • For improved planning and administration, redesign the policies and incentives connected to land use.

  • Make a significant investment in both fire prevention and suppression.

  • Use current fire-fighting methods to their full potential.

  • Enhance the collecting and analysis of wildfire data.

  • Avoid land management methods that make forests more vulnerable to wildfires.

  • Take steps to prevent more damage and loss as a result of frequent catastrophic fires.

  • Set up dependable fire detection and detection systems.

Measures At Individual Level


  • Build safe Campfires and Bonfires: Find a suitable pit that has been cleared of plants and is surrounded by stones. Don't leave a burning campfire when you're done with it; make sure it's totally doused in water and blanketed in dirt. Kindling, branches, tents, and sleeping gear should all be kept away from the fire pit to avoid igniting it. On a windy day, avoid campfires and bonfires.

  • Right disposal of smoking and flickering items: Never discard lit cigarettes, smoking materials, or matches on the ground, especially when getting out of the automobile, as these can ignite dry grass. Always throw them in a sealed container or a cup of water.

  • Vehicles Safety: Make sure your vehicle's chains and other metal pieces aren't dragging, as they can cause sparks. Because driving on an exposed wheel rim can generate sparks, check tyre pressure. Keep in mind that car exhaust can reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees! As a result, avoid driving or parking on dry grass. Make that your vehicle's exhaust spark arrestor is working properly as well.

  • Be Careful while burning trash: Pay attention to local ordinances. Use a fire extinguisher to control flames. Don’t throw explosives and combustibles into the fire. Remove all flammable materials from the vicinity of the fire site.

  • Careful firework practise: Don’t crack fireworks in forests. Consider wetting down the grass and the surrounding vegetation before starting fireworks in a wide open space with no inflammable. Always carry a fire extinguisher, water reservoir and a shovel ready to put the inflammation out. Also, check with your local federal, state and city regulations before starting fireworks.

  • Be cautious while using flammable liquids: Eliminate ignition sources in the general vicinity when working with flammable and combustible liquids. Try to use a minimal amount of flammable liquids. Ensure all the storage containers are in good condition, closed and well labeled.


ONE LESS SPARK, ONE LESS WILDFIRE!


References:


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2 Comments


muskan.2021.150
Jan 14, 2022

Informative

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Kairvi Rao
Kairvi Rao
Jan 14, 2022

Very knowledgeable!!

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