Forest Fires
A PSA BY THE FOREST FIRE FOUNDATION
What are forest fires?
Forest fires are moving combustion reactions that spread outward in a band from its ignition point leaving burned out forest behind it.
How do forest fires start?
Forest fires need all three elements from the fire triangle to start:
- Oxygen - easily obtainable in the forest
- Fuel - branches, dry leaves etc.
- Heat/Ignition:
- Human Caused : unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes etc.
- Nature Caused : Lightning
Effects of forest fires
Forest fires burn away millions of hectares of trees annually. These trees could've contributed greatly to the export of wood products. Also, forest fires cost a fortune to extinguish. In the end, forest fires end up costing the government hundreds of millions of dollars.
Forest fires also damage the soil beneath them. They kill off two very key components necessary for tree growth;
1. Nitrogen:
- Nitrogen is the building block for protein in plants
- It is a component of chlorophyll, it is responsible for many enzyme reactions
- Fills the spaces in the cell wall between cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin components
- Aids in conducting water through plant stem's
- Responsible for wooden feeling.
Climate change affects on forest fires
Warmer climate will affect forest fires in three ways:
- Less moisture, resulting in larger and more uncontrollable fires
- Warmer climate means more lightning, resulting in more nature caused fires
- Warmer climate means longer fire season, resulting in more fires in general
What can you do to help?
We should all look for cleaner sources of energy. If we all put in the effort to use renewable sources of energy. We can all prevent global warming and stop forest fires from being so severe
Wanna learn more
This is FFF's official website
Forest Fires - A MESSAGE FROM THE FOREST FIRE FOUNDATION