Major Reasons for Wildfire. A wildfire is an unintentional fire that breaks out in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. Wildfires can occur at any time or in any location. They are frequently caused by human activity or natural phenomena such as lightning. It’s unknown how half of the wildfires that have been recorded started.
Extremely dry conditions, such as drought, and high winds enhance the risk of wildfires. They also result in a decrease in air quality, as well as the loss of property, crops, resources, animals, and people.
Wildfires and volcanic eruptions killed 2400 people globally due to suffocation, injuries, and burns between 1998 and 2017, but the size and frequency of wildfires are increasing due to climate change. Climate change is causing ecosystems to dry out and increase the risk of wildfires. By releasing significant amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere, wildfires also have an impact on weather and climate. Air pollution, as a result, can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. Wildfires also have a substantial impact on mental health and psychological well-being.
Major Reasons for Wildfire
Wildfires are legally classified as natural disasters by the EPA, however, the vast majority of wildfires do not occur naturally. Human-caused wildfires account for 80 to 90 per cent of all documented wildfires.
How do humans contribute to the spread of wildfires?
Most wildfires start when campers leave their campfires unattended, according to the Frontline Wildfire Defense System. Cooking over a campfire is fun, but on a dry, windy day, even a single wayward spark can cause broad devastation. Those residential areas may also be the source of the wildfire’s ignition. It’s also worth noting that burning plants is illegal in many regions of the United States. Before you burn anything in your property, check with your local municipality.
According to the Frontline Wildfire Defense System, electrical power lines are one of the leading sources of wildfires in California. Power lines that have fallen are responsible for 10% of all wildfires. This equates to about 400 fires every year in California. Over the last six years, fallen power wires have sparked over 1,500 wildfires in California. Hundreds of people have died as a result of the wildfires.
