Fires in Nature

Question 1

What are wild fires?

Answer 1

Large uncontrolled destructive fires that burn quickly over grassland and woodland

Question 2

What are the 3 types of wild fires?

Answer 2

• ground fires
• surface fire
• crown fire

Question 3

Ground fire

Answer 3

Fire that occurs on the ground e.g. peat, tree roots

Question 4

Surface fire

Answer 4

leaf litter and low lying vegetation burn

Question 5

Crown fire

Answer 5

fire moves rapidly through the canopy; fires are more intense and fast-moving.

Question 6

Distribution - class notes

Answer 6

• Predominantly occurs in outskirts of Australia, in areas prone to the risk of drought.
• Mid/Southern/Western Africa
• North Africa = low levels of wildfires
• High levels of wildfires in northern areas of South America + Southern areas of Northern area

Question 7

Distribution - Snaprevise notes

Answer 7

USA

• West experiences SERIOUS droughts = serious wildfires
• California, Utah, San Francisco
• Rural hazard - not urban - expanded human habitation in rural areas/ plants that would usually be in rural areas are also in urban areas.

Question 8

what are the conditions needed 4 wildfires?

Answer 8

• vegetation types
• Fuel characteristics
• climate and recent weather
• fire behaviour

Question 9

Vegetation types

Answer 9

• thick undergrowth
• ## trees containing a lot of oil e.g. pine, eucalyptus = burns much more quickly (enables the fire to move much quickly

Question 10

Fuel characteristics

Answer 10

• fine dry material
• e.g. things that catch fire and burn easily e.g. a twig
• large amounts of fuel that form continuous cover will help the fire burn for longer and spread faster

Question 11

Climate and recent weather

Answer 11

• rainfall must be sufficient for vegetation growth
• fires happen usually in places with dry seasons with no rain and high temperature for a long time: allows vegetation to dry out.

Question 12

Fire behaviour

Answer 12

• Creeping fires move across grounds fairly slowly
• running fires spread rapidly and are more intense
• fires throw out burning debris
  this spreads fire and CaUseS it to become more InTeNSE.

Question 13

HUMAN CAUSES aka SACMBF

Answer 13

• Sparks from machinery
• Arson
• Cigarettes
• Managed fires
• Barbecues
• Fireworks

Question 14

Natural causes

Answer 14

Lightning

Volcanic eruptions

Question 15

Distribution - natural ecosystems

what else is included?

Answer 15

natural ecosystems
Phyrophytic
Rainforests
LA California

Question 16

Natural ecosystems - which areas are wildfires most beneficial to?

Answer 16

• Mediterranean

- savannah - grassland - Africa

Question 17

why are wildfires beneficial to areas mentioned in natural ecosystem flashcard?

Answer 17

aids new seed germination
kills pesticides/parasites
stimulates new growth of plants

Question 18

state a material that is naturally resistant to wildfires

Answer 18

Pyrophytic
a type of tree
its bark is fire resistant which protects it
e.g. Baobab

Question 19

why are rainforests still at risk of fires?

Answer 19

because of human activity
despite the rainforest being wet - a natural deterrent t wildfires
H (however) humans still set it on fire to clear space for agricultural farming (like palm oil) or for intensive animal farming
+ micro-farming

Question 20

Tell me a bit about Los Angeles, California

Answer 20

• drought resistant shrubs (in the city - susceptible to fire)
• winds - Santa Ana winds
• low building density outside city - the fires within urban areas - at HUGe risk

Question 21

EFFECTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Answer 21

• loss of crops - timber x livestock
• loss of life
• loss of property - houses x buildings
• release of toxic gases + particulates
• loss of wildlife - poor koala bears :-(

Question 22

Secondary Effectsss

Answer 22

Evacuation - loss of land + possession particularly in dry urban areas
increased flood risk - plants and trees act as interception to water - instead of going towards fire it flows towards river and creates flash floods

Question 23

ManaGEmenT

Answer 23

managing vegetation
- shrubs removed/cleared away to subsequently avoid spreading of fire
Managing built environment
- avoid planning buildings in areas of high risk and avoid places of no human contact so that the hazard risk is not that deep.
Modelling
- route of fire
so map the route of the fire to track it
Insurance
Education
- people need to know whether they are in the area of risk or not so that they can go and get some insurance
+ prevent careless actions that ignite these risks

Question 24

Dealing with the fire

Answer 24

Fighting the fire 
- volunteer firefighters 
- like fireman SAM
Spraying water/ chemical 
- now this is \$\$$ so its not the most favourable option 
but is quite effective 
Ground 
- bulldoze breaks to clear vegetation
- beat out fires 
Retardants 
- where life or property is threatened by fire 
- spraying in inaccessible areas via air

Question 25

Summary

• first test yourself to see how much you remember
• then look at answers, write down and repeat saying out loud several times and then try to recall it from memory after covering info up

Answer 25

Natural events: lightning, but can be caused by humans too
Nature of fires + climate, type of vegetation + strength of wind
Fire = ignition services
Fire = rural hazards - expand into these areas + urban if they have dry vegetation prone to fire risk
Benefits
- list regions
- seed germination
Effects: loss of crops, livestock, property, wildlife, damage to soil - increased flood risk + evacuation required to areas of risk
Prevention x Protection
- managing environment
- provide education
- efficient warning systems