The powerful yet terrifying set of events known as “wildfires” is catastrophic in a myriad of ways. With the recent surge in the number of wildfires across the globe, many curious minds would contemplate what causes wildfires. If you’re one of them, this article is for you. Let’s dive deeper into the causes of wildfires, the role of convection in starting wildfires, and their impact on the environment. Moreover, we will reflect on how they begin in the first place, what is fire triangle and how humans can play a role in preventing them.
Mystery Behind Wildfires – What Actually Is A Wildfire?
An uncontrolled fire that mostly burns in rural areas and spreads upon vegetation, grassy areas, or forests is known as a “wildfire”. The most significant feature of wildfires is that they spread at a very fast speed sometimes engulfing miles in a matter of a few hours. They can be quite unpredictable as they change their direction very quickly. As bizarre as it may sound it’s a fact that meteorologists cannot predict the outbreak of wildfires.
Fire Triangle – The Perfect Conditions For Wildfire
While wildfires can be unpredictable; certain conditions must be present for the wildfire to erupt in the first place. Often known as the “Fire Triangle”; the three conditions are
- Oxygen
- Fuel
- Some heat source
Many people may not know the exact causes of wildfires but “humans” start 99 percent of wildfires. As astonishing as that may be, it’s true.
Wildfires aren’t limited to forests and vegetation; when uncontrolled they pose a serious threat to animals, humans and their properties. One good thing about wildfires is that in some ecosystems they help in maintaining the particular environment’s health by burning the dead plants and vegetation. They also recycle some nutrients into the soil. In the same manner, when uncontrolled, wildfires may cause soil erosion along with loss of biodiversity.
Types of Wildfires
Wildfires can be of three types depending on their location and other factors. They are ground fires, crown fires and surface fires as discussed below.
Ground Fires
The type of wildfire that particularly erupts in the thick soil that is full of organic matter such as roots. They can keep burning low for an extended period and sometimes last an entire season.
Crown Fires
Often the next stage of ground fires, crown fires consume the canopies of trees including leaves.
Surface Fires
As depicted by the name, this type of wildfire limits to the surface. It consumes dead vegetation that had been growing or just lying on the surface such as fallen leaves, parched grass, etc.
What are the Main Causes of Wildfires?
There is no one particular culprit to answer what is the main cause of wildfires. While there are conspiracy theories surrounding wildfires as fact checked by CBS News, we can’t deny the natural factors that play a crucial role in these fires.
Wildfires are caused by both human and natural causes and aided by the right conditions. The most common natural cause of wildfires is lightning. It strikes trees and shrubs causing a spark that later spreads leading to bigger fires. According to reports 4 out of 5 wildfires are a result of human carelessness such as unattended campfires, wasted cigarettes power line sparks, etc.
These causes although may seem minor when aided by the right conditions or the fuel, quickly become a wildfire engulfing everything that it comes across.
What Are 3 Causes of Wildfires?
What plays a bigger role in wildfires is not important. But understanding what contributes to wildfires is the main point of concern here. The study of wildfires is incomplete without answering the top concern of meteorologists and researchers across the globe i.e. what are the three causes of wildfires? These causes when aided by the right environmental conditions result in wildfires that lead to environmental damages as well as human losses. Have a look:
Human Error/Carelessness
Rightfully bagging the number one slot in the causes of wildfires, human error can lead to bigger wildfires than one can imagine. Campfires when left unattended, inappropriately disposed off cigarettes, exposed power lines, and burning debris on the ground are the top human causes of wildfires.
Weather Conditions
High temperatures, lesser humidity, and fast winds are a perfect recipe for wildfires. During dry weather, the trees and shrubs act as a literal fuel for the wildfires.
Lightning
The lightning phenomenon is pretty common in forest areas. When lightning falls on the dried trees and shrubs, it leads to a fire that spreads at a super fast rate.
What plays a bigger role in wildfires is not important. But understanding what contributes to wildfires is the main point of concern here.
Factors that play a Role in the Growth of Wildfire
While there are several causes of wildfires as discussed above; there are more that contribute to growth of it. Once started, certain factors determine the rate and growth of the wildfire such as the wind speed, overall environmental conditions and more.
Wind
The speed and direction of wind determine the growth of the wildfires. Like, the faster the wind is, the faster will be the growth of the wildfire.
Dry Conditions
Dried trees, leaves, and shrubs as a result of a rise in temperatures can also pave the way perfectly for a wildfire.
Topography
The type of land has a lot to do with the growth of the wildfires. Fires move at a very fast speed when they head uphill. Hence, they spread faster in valleys, canyons, and hillsides.
Global Warming
Global warming has a direct effect on the frequency of wildfires. Summers are getting hotter with every passing year leading to a rise in temperatures which is one of the top factors of wildfire growth along with droughts.
Preventive Measures
Some areas take fire prevention measures that lead to vegetation build-up in the forests. This reduces the onset of smaller fires but it leads to bigger fires in the future as the vegetation acts as a fuel for the fire.
What is the Role of Convection in Wildfires?
The process of convection has a direct effect on the spreading as well as causes of wildfires. The definition of convection is:
“The process of transfer of heat energy from hotter to cooler areas is convection”
During a wildfire, when the hot air rises above, the cooler air gets pulled in which feeds the fire and helps it to grow. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Production of Heat: When the wildfire burns, it produces heat. As a result, the air above and around the fire becomes hotter as compared to the nearby air.
- Upward Movement: Hot air being lighter and lesser in density rises upwards.
- Oxygen Pull-In: When the hot air rises above, the cooler air takes its place pulling in oxygen. Since oxygen acts as a fuel for the fire, it burns at a faster pace and spreads.
- Embers: When the hot air moves upward as a result of convection, it carries tiny embers and sparks along with it to other places. These embers and sparks when reach a new place may start a new fire contributing to the spread of the fire.
This cycle continues causing the fire to continue at a faster pace. This phenomenon happens more frequently in dry areas or where the winds are stronger.
How Do Wildfires Impact the Environment?
The impact of wildfires on the environment is very significant and widespread. Over the last few years, wildfires have occurred very frequently and have left far-reaching effects around the globe. Having a deeper understanding of the impacts of wildfires on the environment might help in preventing them and taking precautionary measures. Have a look at the devastating effects of wildfires on the environment:
Habitat Destruction
Wildfires destroy entire habitats as a result of which animals lose their shelters, water, and food. Moreover, wildfires also wipe off threatened species.
Air Pollution
When wildfires occur, they emit smoke in large amounts and also emit carbon dioxide causing severe air pollution. This smoke travels to longer distances where it affects air quality and poses serious threats to human health.
Soil Erosion
Wildfires mostly occur on the surface burning plants and trees and leading to soil erosion. Moreover, a rain spell occurs after a wildfire, that washes away topsoil. This leads to landslides paving the way for further environmental damage.
Water Quality
When the vegetation is burnt, chemicals and ash leach into the nearby water sources destroying water quality.
Release of Carbon Dioxide
Trees and shrubs act as carbon dioxide reservoirs as they absorb carbon dioxide. When they are burnt, the carbon dioxide goes back into the air leading to climate hazards.
As we discuss about protecting our planet from calamities such as wildfires, why not find out the purpose of celebrating a day for our planet. Read about Why do we celebrate Earth Day.
How Can We Prevent Wildfires?
It is practically impossible to prevent wildfires completely. However, with a combination of appropriate management of land, responsible behavior, and proper acknowledgment of climate change, it’s possible to prevent the causes of wildfires to a greater extent. Not only this but by exhibiting responsible behavior, humans can reduce wildfire impact on the environment and human life greatly. Here are the top ways on how we can prevent wildfires as a community:
Disposing of Cigarettes Appropriately
Half-burnt cigarettes or matches are among the top-tier causes of wildfires as that’s the top answer to how do wildfires start by humans. When they come in contact with dried leaves, grass, or plants, they lead to the start of wildfires. The best way to dispose of them while being outdoors is to put them in a non-flammable bag or container and then throw/dispose it off.
Campfire Management
Campfires are fun, no doubt but not when they are left unattended or without proper extinguishing. Make sure your campfire is manageable and smaller in size instead of a bigger bonfire. Never leave it unattended as it may cause serious fire incidents to campsites if not the wildfire. Lastly, when you’re leaving, make sure to properly extinguish it. The best practice is to put dirt over the fire or pour some water to ensure all embers are finished.
Say no to Fireworks
This may seem bizarre to many but fireworks when done in dry areas can lead to fire eruption. We must not do fireworks during dry seasons and in areas covered with dry vegetation.
Use Properly Working Outdoor Equipment
Outdoor machinery such as chainsaws and lawnmowers must be in good health. For example, a lawnmower that produces sparks while working may lead to fire incidents in the home as well as be a causative agent of wildfires.
Creating a Clear Space In and Around the House
If you are living in an area that is prone to wildfires owing to the natural conditions, you can play a great role in preventing wildfires. Just take simple steps such as making a safe space around your property. This can be done by clearing out dried shrubs, dead plants, and trees surrounding your space. Also, you must install fireproof windows and roofs so that your house has a lesser chance of catching fire or being a reason to spread it.
Controlled Burning
We must do controlled burning In areas where the burning of dry vegetation is necessary. For this purpose, fire experts come in handy as they are trained professionals. They safely set up a small and controlled fire first. Then they burn out dead bushes and dried leaves that become a starting point of wildfires.
Educating the Public
This is one of the most important steps to undertake for the prevention of wildfires. When the public knows everything about fire safety, the risk factors, and the consequences of wildfires, they will play a role in the cessation.
Early Detection of Wildfires
It’s an easy nut to crack; if we detect wildfires early on, we can contain them timely and reduce the loss. Drones and satellites come in handy for early detection. They provide real-time images and information to firefighters who can then take timely actions.
Causes Of Wildfires In Brief
The answer to the question of why do wildfires happen is a simple yet complex one. While certain weather conditions and environmental factors contribute majorly towards causes of wildfires, human error is mostly what ignites it. The understanding of how do wildfires start by humans is the first step towards prevention. Moreover, it’s important to know what is the main cause of wildfires, and what contributes to wildfires Furthermore, knowing what do wildfires do to the environment can also instill responsibility in the general public. As a community, we can play a great role in reducing them if not eliminating them.
