Hazards-WIldfires Flashcards
what does the fire triangle consist of ?
oxygen,fuel,heat
define wildfire.
an uncontrolled fire that spreads through landscapes
what are the 3 types of fire?
- crown fire
- surface
- ground
what is a crown fire?
fire which spreads across tree canopies-hardest to extinguish
what is a surface fire?
burns across surface vegetation
what is a ground fire?
burns beneath the ground in layers of organic pear(dead vegetation/organic matter)
what are causes of wildires?
- lightning(main cause)
- cigarettes
- campfire
- falling power lines
what contributes to the spread of wildfires?
- large quantities of dry vegetation around
what area is the most prone to wildfires?
wildland-urban interfaces which are woodlands close to urban areas
what are fire bands?
- burning fragments of vegetation can be carries ahead of the fire by convection currents and strong winds which ignite isolated fire spots
- a significant hazard because they are random in nature and gravity can allow fire bands to roll downslope ahead of the fire
environmental impacts of wildfires
- soils damages as fire removes organic matter
- habitats destroyed
- smoke causes air pollution
how can you be prepared for a fire?
- during times of high risk warnings are released vis social media
- introduction of fire bans high risk times
-education
how can you prevent a wildfire?
- public awareness of how to use campfires and bbqs
how can you adapt to wildfires?
use of planning regulations to reduce hazard associated with wildfires
insurance on homes
how can you mitigate against wildfires post-fire?
-control of invasive pioneer plants
what is cloud seeding?
a weather modification technique by producing artificial condensation to clouds to make it rain/snow
how can you mitigate against wildfires pre-fire?
- thinning of trees
- remove vegetation from house pipes
- dispose debris
-Controlled burnings are burnings created on purpose to remove flammable materials so that less
fuel is available
pros and cons of cloud seeding
pros: produces more rain which can calm fire down
cons: contains chemicals which are harmful to humans and animals
what is Boabab tree an example of?
a pyrophytic tree which has resistant bark so can withstand fires
social impacts of wildfires
loss of life
loss of property
a secondary impact of wildfires
flooding due to less interception can cause flash floods
primary impacts
damage to soil
release of gases
