Californian forests are up in flames again. Over 600 wildfires have burned down more than 1.25 million acres in Northern and Central California since August 15. The massive fires were set off by a lightning siege of over 12,000 strikes. High temperatures and strong winds have made the situation even worse. Wildfires have also been raging in Argentina’s Cordoba province and Parana Delta since July. Fueled by strong, dry winds and severe drought, the fires have destroyed at least 35,400 acres of forest in the Parana Delta, an important wetland ecosystem. What are the factors that fuel fire in a forest? Does climate have a role to play?
What is a wildfire?
An uncontrolled fire is an area of combustible vegetation which spreads quickly, wiping out large areas of land is called a wildfire. A wildfire can also be termed a forest fire, a grass fire, a peat fire or a bush fire depending on the type of vegetation present in the area.
What causes wildfires?
Wildfires are common in Australia, Southeast Asia, southern Africa, Western Cape of South Africa, the forested areas of the United States and Canada, and the Mediterranean Basin.
During summer, when there is no rain for months, the forests became littered with dry leaves and twigs, which could be ignited by the slightest spark.
Natural causes: Lightning is the most common cause of wildfire. There are three conditions for a forest fire to spread – fuel, oxygen and a heat source. In the forest, anything that is flammable is a fuel. This includes tall, dry grass, bushes and trees. High temperature, drought and dry vegetation are a perfect combination for igniting a forest fire.
Man-made disaster: Human neglect such as downed powerliness, sparks from tools or forest machinery, abandoned campfires and discarded cigarette butts can spark fires. People also tend to clear forests by setting them on fire to pave way for cultivation. Sometimes they set fire to scare away wild animals.
How is forest fire put out?
Traditional extinguishing methods include water dousing and spraying of fire retardants from aircraft. To limit the spread of a fire, firefighters remove ground litter and bush.
Picture Credit : Google