Forest fire
One of the most prevalent causes of global deforestation and destruction of wildlife is fire. Forest or wildlife fires spread at different speeds depending on vegetation, weather conditions, and physical features. Discovered fossil charcoal indicate that forest fires are not new to modern history as some date back to over one hundred million years ago. The Earth is said to be a fundamentally flammable planet because of the existence of vegetation rich in carbon, dry climates, oxygen in the atmosphere, lightning, and volcanic activities among others.And that is why , there are three possible cause of forest fire are human cause, natural cause, disaster.
Human activities near or within forested areas are the number one cause of forest fires. Smoking near vegetation can cause a widespread fire when a smoker throws a cigarette into vegetation without completely extinguishing its burning butt. While most smokers throw lit cigarettes innocently, their actions have caused several forest fires throughout history. Other causes include campfires that are not well monitored or put off entirely. In some extreme cases, people have deliberately caused fires during hunting to corner wild animals while others burn forests to clear the way for agriculture or development activities. Lastly, some people just start fires without any reason (arson).
Lightning is the biggest natural cause of forest fires. Lightning fires are always more common immediately after dry seasons when vegetation is still dry. Lightning fires destroy more vegetation than human-caused fires. This is because lighting fires occur in remote areas far from human presence and are not notice in time, unlike fires caused by human activities. Lightning caused fires also occur in rough terrains and dangerous places which makes it hard for fire suppression equipment and personnel to reach the fire on time. In rare occurrences, volcanic activities such as eruptions and lava flow can cause fires which are difficult to put out because of the lava flow and other associated risks.
disasters that can affect forest fires are whirlwinds, climate change, global warming because it disrupts the sustainability of the forest. National wildlife federation notes that increases in average annual temperatures create conditions that dramatically elevate the risk and severity of forest fires, particularly in the American West. Here’s how: Dry conditions: Below-average rainfall in some areas – a result of the enhanced evaporation rates associated with warming and the climate crisis – naturally increases the probability and duration of a fire. Infestations: Warm and dry conditions, particularly in months that were once cooler, allow some very destructive insects like the mountain pine beetle to survive winters and reproduce quickly. The beetles and other pests kill trees and brush, which then dry out, making them far easier to ignite.
Most natural fires are usually monitored and allowed to burn, with the aim of balancing a forest's ecology. Vegetation may also be burned occasionally in order to balance species. Authorities have undertaken awareness campaigns on the causes of fires to reduce human initiated fire incidences. Wildfire suppression can be done in various ways. Simple techniques such as throwing layers of soil can be used. In some cases, unmanned aerial planes can be used to drop water and fire retardants
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