On Wildfires
"Wildland fire is a natural process--it is an agent of change, not of good or evil." [1] There are huge wildfires blazing out in California right now, so I thought I would take some time to write a little about them. Many of the parks I visited talked about the effects of fire, and though destructive to us, can positively impact natural habitats.
First I would like to say it is very devastating how many people out in California are being displaced and having their homes and belongings destroyed by the fire. Uncontrolled fire to human communities is very terrible and I can't imagine going through that. My purpose for this article is to explain wildfires and how they effect natural habitats and wild areas.
Wildfires are uncontrolled blazes that can spread very rapidly through an area. There are three conditions that must all be present for a wildfire to burn: heat, oxygen, and fuel. In a wildland fire, the fuel is plants: trees, leaves, grasses, undergrowth. The oxygen source is the surrounding air and winds. And the heat source, which starts the fire, can be a variety of natural or man-made causes. Natural sources are events such as a lightning strike or the right combination of bright sun and dry vegetation. Unfortunately though, most fires are started from man-made heat sources. These include campfires, cigarettes, power lines, and even arson. While all three of these conditions are present, the fire will continue to burn and spread.
Natural wildfire has always been a part of the wild landscape and is actually beneficial to the ecosystem. As a fire spreads through the forest, dead and decaying matter on the forest floor is burnt, returning valuable nutrients to the soil. The fire additionally kills-off disease-ridden plants and harmful insects, such as the bark beetle, slowing the spread of the pests. Also, many trees such as the lodgepole pines and sequoias, rely on fire to open their cones and release the seeds. And because the canopies and brush layers are cleared by the fire, sunlight can reach the forest floor and seedlings of all different types of trees and flowers can grow.
So, in natural settings wildfires are beneficial and increase the diversity of habitat conditions in an area and plants and animals can positively adapt. When the fire spreads out to human communities, homes, and infrastructure, it quickly becomes deadly and destructive. Firefighters put out fires by eliminating one or more of the three necessary conditions for fire. Spaying water or fire retardant decreases heat and oxygen, making it harder for the fuel to burn. Also, fire breaks, open spaces that can stop a fire from spreading such as a highway or clearing, can be created by chopping down trees and clearing vegetation to eliminate the fuel source.
The frequency of wildfires throughout the country has greatly increased throughout the years. This is because of us, humans, either from human-induced climate change or human-induced fires. Like I mentioned before, most wildfires (80%) [2] are caused by human activity such as campfires and fireworks, and with climate change causing dryer air and hotter temperatures, it is very easy for a wildfire to start up and spread rapidly. It can confidently be said that climate change is changing weather patterns and increasing the frequency of wildfires. [2] California has had its worst year ever for wildfires and not coincidentally a record-breaking summer heat wave. Uncharacteristic weather is an effect of climate change we are very aware of but will continue to happen unless big changes are made to reduce the causes of climate change.
How to Prevent Wildfires
-Never leave a campfire unattended
-Completely put out campfire/ hot coals before leaving
-Pay attention to local drought and fire risk conditions before doing anything with fire
-Follow local regulations for vehicle equipment and spark arrestors
