Wildfires Flashcards
What’s in the wildfire triangle?
Oxygen, heat and fuel
What is a wildfire?
A large, uncontrolled fire that quickly spreads through vegetation
What vegetation type leads to more intense wildfires?
Thick, close together, trees and thick bushes lead to more intense wildfires whilst grasslands do not burn as intensely
What plant has flammable oils which causes more intense fires?
Eucalyptus
What are the fuel characteristics of vegetation?
Dry to allow it to catch, finer vegetation causes fires to spread quicker but larger and thicker vegetation burns for longer and more intensely
What can cause dry vegetation?
Lack of rainfall, dry spells, dry seasons
What can spread wildfires quicker?
The wind
Why do fires spread quickly on hills?
Heat rises
How do fires ‘jump’?
Across rivers and into areas due to li debris which can spread as well as embers
What are some natural causes of wildfires?
Volcanoes and lightning
What are some human causes of wildfires?
Cigarettes, BBQ’s, agriculture, grain lines, arson etc
What are the primary effects of a wildfire?
Environmental - air pollution from ash, water pollution, habitats destroyed, toxic gases released in burning, Economic - Businesses destroyed, agricultural land damaged, cost of fighting (firefighters, helicopters, water), Social - People killed or injured in fires, homes destroyed, people go missing during evacuations, Political - government buildings destroyed, areas fight fires differently
What are the secondary effects of a wildfire?
Environmental - removing invasive species and stimulating seed germination, migration pattern of animals affected, increased CO2 from fires could heighten the greenhouse effect, Economic - high cost of rebuilding and insurance payout, sources of income lost, discouraging visitors, losing tourism sector, planes cancelled, Social - homelessness, food shortages from destroyed agricultural land, health problems such as asthma from smoke inhalation, Political - borrowing money for international aid, pressure for government to do more about global warming due to increased frequency of fires
What is meant by prevention in wildfires?
In current climates and weather conditions wildfires cannot be avoided overall. However human-caused wildfires can be prevented through awareness, controlled burning and fire beaters can prevent large wildfires from starting
What is meant by preparedness in a wildfire?
Public awareness about why wildfires start (eg. Smokey Bear campaign in 1944), evacuation plans and raining, satellite image, tracking to manage the areas at risk, red flag warning system so people know areas that will possibly be at risk
What is meant by mitigation in a wildfire?
Search and rescue, immediate emergency aid, evacuation (short term), removing flammable material such as dead leaves, spraying water and fire retardant into areas, building materials that will not relies toxic chemicals into the atmosphere
What is meant by adaptation in a wildfire?
Moving away from areas at risk, fire breaks (gaps in the trees) to stop fires spreading, reducing carbon footprint to lower CO2 emissions (must be global) to lower frequency, insurance to cover damage
