Essay on Wildfires - 1769 Words

A wildfire is any instance of uncontrolled burning in grasslands, brush, or woodlands. Wildfires destroy property and valuable natural resources, and may threaten the lives of people and animals. Wildfires can occur at any time of the year, but usually occur during hot, dry weather. Wildfires are usually signaled by dense smoke which may fill the air for miles around. The National Weather Service, U.S. Forest Service, and State forestry agencies combine to give wildfire probability forecasts. Local radio and television stations broadcast information and warnings on local fire conditions. Wildfires pose an increasing threat to the residential United States. In 1987, 53,000 fires consumed more than two million acres. By October 1988, almost†¦show more content†¦On the actual day of the fire, the fire planners will again check such conditions as wind and moisture content in the vegetation. The wind direction will determine where the fire is started. Fire crews start the burn with a device called a drip torch. A drip torch is a can of fuel with a flame-carrying wick at the end. When the crewmember tilts the wick toward the ground, a flame streams out and ignites the vegetation. Most of the effort that goes into a prescribed fire is making sure that it is contained in the boundaries set for the fire. Firefighters and fire suppression equipment are near the site if the fire grows out of control (www.nps.gov/wica/fir-why.html, pgs. 1-3). While not all the effects of prescribed burns are known some are very evident. The first of these common effects is that vegetation and fallen dead material are burned creating an open forest floor. This eliminates any fuel that could contribute to a high intensity fire in the future. When the fire burns the organic material in the forest, nutrient rich ash is left behind. When the first rain comes, the nutrients in the ash dissolve into the soil for the new plants to use. This process is called nutrient recycling. These nutrients left in the soil are a good source of food for the young plants that will begin to grow back. Another outcome of prescribed fire is that new growth begins immediately after the fires have been extinguished. WithinShow MoreRelatedThe Effects of Wildfires1348 Words   |  6 Pageseffects that wildfires have on every worldwide country really has left its mark on the land. As written by world renowned wild fire spokesperson Smokey the Bear, â€Å"Every year, wildfires sweeps through parts of the United States setting wilderness and homes ablaze. On average these raging infernos destroy about four to five million acres of land a year. But in 2012, wildfire burned more than 9.3 million acres, an area about the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined† (U.S. Wildfires). DestroyingRead MoreEssay on Wildfire Mitigation2969 Words   |  12 PagesWildfire Mitigation Thesis: Politicians are proposing sweeping changes in bills, which have caused great controversy, in efforts to correct the problems that the Forest Service has faced in restoration projects. Are these bills necessary or is there a better solution that politicians are overlooking? Introduction: Humans have been changing the Western forests fire system since the settlement by the Europeans and now we are experiencing the consequences of thoseRead MoreWildfires And Its Effects On Our Environment977 Words   |  4 Pageswe segue into a fifth season. Wildfire Season. Wildfires can wreak havoc! Millions of dollars are spent annually, preparing for Wildfires. Money is allocated for education, training, and preparing to fight Wildfires. Money is spent fighting them and protecting structures that might be in the way. Wildfires can be costly, but they also impact us in other ways. 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The Cedar and Witch Creek Fires are two of the most recent and notorious wildfires in California history for their degree of damage in terms of acreageRead MoreWildfire Essay736 Words   |  3 PagesEven though there are many, wildfires are the most interesting. Wildfires has many aspects such as the cause, the cost, who helps after, and where they occur. WIldfire can be divided into four different groups such as science, math, health, and social studies. Why do wildfires start? 90% of wildfires are started by humans the other 10% is either started by lightning, lava, or natural causes. As a matter of fact the driving force for a wildfire is hot, dry, and humid temperaturesRead MoreHistory Of A Fire Regime And Where We Are Today1285 Words   |  6 PagesJillian Spies, Assignment #1, FRST 547- Forestry in British Columbia Wildfire in British Columbia: The History of a Fire Regime and Where We Are Today The extraordinary wildfires that burned in 2015 worried many British Columbians. That year, 304,460 hectares of land was burned by wildfires in the province (Lori Daniels, personal communication, Oct. 30, 2015). Compared to the 10 year average of 115,000 hectares per year (Lori Daniels, personal communication, Oct. 30, 2015), this is a staggeringlyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Wildfires Wildfire Essay1601 Words   |  7 PagesEdmonia â€Å"Wildfire, Mary† Lewis is that to have been born in either Albany or Greenbush, New York between 1843-1845 sometime in July, and later died in London, England in 1907, though the exact location and year of her birth is still uncertain. This is in part due to her parentage as she was the daughter of a freed African-American father and a Chippewa Native American mother. Both Edmonia and her brother â€Å"Sunrise† were orphaned and left to grow up with her mom’s tribe. It was living with her mother’sRead MoreFighting F ire With Fire Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesand efficient ways to prevent and stop wild fires. Wildfires are naturally occurring events that will happen despite any effort to prevent them. The thing people can do is reduce the severity and amount of wildfires by many different tactics. There are organizations all over the world from federal to private with the goal to reduce wildfires. The most widely known organization uses the iconic bear, Smokey, who says â€Å"Only you can prevent Wildfires†(â€Å"About The Campaign†). Fires need three factors to