Wildfire Hazards

Question 1

What are the three types of wildfire?

Answer 1

• Crown fires burn the trees from top to bottom and are the most destructive
• Surface fires burn leaf litter and are easy to extinguish
• Ground fires burn peat or vegetation and move slowly undergrounds, therefore are hard to extinguish

Question 2

How are wildfires started?

Answer 2

• 90% human (e.g. campfires, cigarettes, arson, falling power lines)
• 10% natural (e.g. lightning, droughts)

Question 3

What are the benefits of wildfires as a natural process?

Answer 3

• Regular fires reduce the build-up of fuel and reduce risk of a larger fire
• Removes invasive species and stimulates seed germination
• Ashes from the fire add nutrients to the soil
• Control of insect pests as diseased trees are burnt and healthy trees remain

Question 4

What conditions impact wildfires?

Answer 4

• Prolonged droughts (dry out vegetation)
• Humidity
• Build up of dead wood
• Dense forests
• High winds

Question 5

What is the main process in wildfire spread?

Answer 5

Pyrolisis - wood burns in the absence of O2 and releases toxic gases

Question 6

What weather phenomenon can impact wildfire spread?

Answer 6

El Nino and La Nina (ENSO)
- Leads to prolonged drought periods
- Wetter conditions in California during El Nino
- Drier conditions during La Nina

Question 7

What are the social impacts of wildfires?

Answer 7

• People killed/injured
• Homes destroyed (homelessness)
• Food shortages as farmland burnt
• Health problems from smoke inhalation

Question 8

What are the economic impacts of wildfires?

Answer 8

• Businesses destroyed
• Agricultural land damaged
• Planes cancelled
• Sources of income lost

Question 9

What are the environmental impacts of wildfires?

Answer 9

• Air pollution from ash
• Habitat destruction
• Toxic gases (e.g. NOx)
• Impacts migration patterns

Question 10

What are the political impacts of wildfires?

Answer 10

• Government buildings destroyed
• Borrowing money for international aid
• Pressure for climate action

Question 11

What are examples of preparedness and prevention?

Answer 11

• Evacuation drills
• Satellite imagery
• Public awareness and education
• Warning systems

Question 12

What are examples of mitigation?

Answer 12

• Extinguish fires with chemical slurry
• Controlled burning
• Fire resistant construction materials (e.g. bricks and concrete)

Question 13

What are examples of adaptation?

Answer 13

• Increased distance between individual houses as well as from areas of vegetation
• Insurance plans
• Reduce CO2 emissions to prevent further global warming