Wildfires

Question 1

what is a wildfire?

Answer 1

a term used for an uncontrolled fire fuelled by natural vegetation

Question 2

what can the benefits of wildfires be?

Answer 2

• a regular occurrence of small fires can reduce the amount of fuel build up reducing the chance of a large fire
• fires often remove alien species which compete with other species for nutrients and space
• the ashes that remain add nutrients to the soil

Question 3

what does the exact nature of a fire depend upon?

Answer 3

• types of plants
• space between fuels
• wind strength
• topography
• times and seasons
• temperature

Question 4

what are the conditions needed for a fire?

Answer 4

fuel dry vegetation
ignition source
climatic/weather condition

Question 5

what are the natural causes of wildfires?

Answer 5

• wood must reach 3000 degrees
• hot volcanic lava
• earthquakes (when rocks rub together)
• lack of precipitation
• lightening strike
• very dry vegetation

Question 6

what are the human causes of wildfires?

Answer 6

• power lines
• guns
• increase in human activity
• campfires
• not disposing of cigarettes properly
• arson
• buring debris

Question 7

what are the strategies for preparing mitigating and protecting against wildfires?

Answer 7

1. community action
2. controlled burning to get rid of litter
3. increase the gap between houses and areas of vegetation at risk
4. use of fire resistant materials for building
5. preparation in terms of emergency supplies and survival kits
6. educate people on the dangers and human causes of fires
7. warning systems and close observations of areas at risk

Question 8

what are surface fires?

Answer 8

most common and burn along floor

Question 9

what are ground fires?

Answer 9

burn organic matter in soil

Question 10

what are crown fires?

Answer 10

top layer of the foliage is burnt through