How Wildfires Affect Our Eco-system

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How Wildfires Affect Our Eco-system
by Asmita Pramanik \| 19-10-2017 23:53 0
Wildfires are blazes that are uncontrolled and fueled by different types of weather, dry underbrush, and wind, which burn land by the acres and take over everything in their paths, in just a few minutes. It often occurs in wildland areas, and can consume houses and agricultural resources that lie on its way. What causes wildfires? HUMAN HAZARDS- The most significant reason of the ignition of wildfires are the careless actions of human beings. These hazardous actions include irresponsibly throwing cigarette butts on land, leaving campfires unmonitored and intentional acts of arson. 90% of wildfires in the USA have been caused by people. *Burning debris-* A very common practice practiced by humans is that of burning yard waste in random, empty lands. While it is legalized in a large number of countries, it may cause fires at many places. Winds play a major role in wildfires and may be a driving factor of it spreading across forests. Cigarettes- Negligent smokers tend to throw away cigarette butts on the ground without properly checking whether it is still burning. This is a very common cause of wildfires. Fireworks- Bursting firecrackers are a highly hyped way of celebrating many festivals. However, along with releasing excessive smoke which is harmful for the environment, neglectful use of firecrackers can result as flames in unwanted territories. Arson- Arson is the act of deliberately setting fire to property, vehicles or anything else to cause fire. Arson is sometimes done by people to their own property to receive compensation. This horrid practice accounts up to 30% of the causes of wildfires. NATURAL CAUSES- Studies have shown that natural activities cause up to 10% of the wildfires in the USA.These natural happenings that cause wildfires are - *lightning and volcanic eruption.* What are the effects of wildfires? - Loss of life and injury to people and animals who are caught in the flames. - Destruction of property and possessions (this is getting more severe as more and more people live in the urban-rural fringe) - Burning of vegetation and crops. - Huge amounts of smoke released. - Health problems for people as a result of the smoke and ash. - Loss of jobs and incomes for agricultural workers whose animals/crops are destroyed. - Decline in the tourist industry, leading to loss of jobs. - Insurance premiums rise. - Access to recreational areas is restricted. - Soil erosion and landslides because there is less vegetation to bind the soil together. - Loss of habitats for animals may lead to extinction. What are the effective solutions? - Remove dead leaves and branches from areas at risk of wildfires. - Put your cigarette our completely before displacing it - Organise controlled burns to remove dead plant material before any fires start. - Educate the public about wildfires so they know how to avoid them from starting. Wildfires are an unfortunate occurrence but they can be prevented. Learn the rules of the area in which you are camping in and make sure you are following them explicitly. They are extremely dangerous and cause quite a bit of dangerous to our land and the habitat of many creatures. Following the rules could save the lives and homes of many people and blessed creatures that are on this earth. Humans are the number one cause of wildfires and can be the number one solution as well. Be the solution and know the rules.

Dormant user Asmita Pramanik

4 Comments

says :
Hi, Asmita! Thank you for your report on wildfires. This was a great topic because wildfires are usually a problem in nearly all parts of the world. When I lived in Southern California, several wildfires would keep occurring with only days in between them. The natural conditions themselves - dry and hot weather, harsh sunlight, and vast fields of dry grass - would just spontaneously start fires. After moving to Korea, there have been many forest fires in the mountains that destroy wildlife and sometimes put people in danger. Unlike the fires in California, these fires were usually caused by humans - from cooking fires or cigarette butts. We should make sure to be careful to prevent wildfires from human activity, and always be prepared to put out the fires that emerge. Thanks for your report!
Posted 30-10-2017 23:54

Prayash Pathak (Chalise) says :
Yeah wildfires due to cigarette butts are seen in many forest of Nepal mainly in the dry seasons. Effective measures to reduce them are not taken in Nepal.
Posted 26-10-2017 01:46

Elizaveta Zaretskaya says :
Hi Asmita! This problem is very serious in Russia. Every summer fires destroy the forest. Usually, this is the fault of the people. Thank you for sharing!
Posted 25-10-2017 17:05

Dewi R. Sulistyoningrum says :
Wildfires are truly unfortunate occurrence, especially in my country Indonesia. I agree with your statement that human also can be number one solution as well.
Keep up the good work :)
Posted 20-10-2017 15:12