Fire is often used to maintain a balanced ecosystem in forests. However, wildfires are becoming more dangerous each year due to climate change. The Western US has been bracing for wildfire season as summer temperatures rise to intense levels. As wildfires have started appearing (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/) over the past month, they’ve continued to spread across several states in the US, including Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico. Although wildfires occur commonly in nature, our changing climate can transform them into an even larger environmental threat.
Fire is often used to maintain a balanced ecosystem in forests. However, wildfires are becoming more dangerous each year due to climate change. The Western US has been bracing for wildfire season as summer temperatures rise to intense levels. As wildfires have started appearing (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/) over the past month, they’ve continued to spread across several states in the US, including Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico. Although wildfires occur commonly in nature, our changing climate can transform them into an even larger environmental threat.
How is Fire Used Beneficially?
When handled correctly and safely, fire can be incredibly useful for helping forests stay healthy. Controlled burns—or prescribed fires— are forest fires that are created on purpose, with the ultimate goal being forest restoration. In a controlled burn scenario, fire experts design a plan for how the prescribed fire will take place. The team pays close attention to several factors, like temperature and wind, to keep the fire under control.
The US Forest Service manages controlled burns for a multitude of reasons, all of which benefit the surrounding ecosystems in some way. Controlled burns help prevent certain pests, and keep diseases away. They also benefit plant life, creating more space for plants and flowers to grow while adding nutrients to the soil. Another great benefit of controlled burns is that they clear away excess debris from forests. Over time, dead leaves and branches begin to build up, which makes perfect fuel for a wildfire to consume. By eliminating these materials in a controlled burn it prevents future wildfires from spreading.
What Causes a Wildfire, or Forest Fire?
Unlike a prescribed burn, a wildfire—or forest fire—is an uncontrolled fire that burns forests, grasslands, and several other ecosystems. Wildfires are caused by one of two things: nature or people. Forest fires occur naturally and are often caused by lightning strikes. According to the National Park Service, though, nearly 85% of wildfires that happen in the United States are caused by human activity/interference. Neglecting campfires, burning debris, and leaving behind lit cigarettes are just a few ways humans can unintentionally start a fire.
In a scientific sense, wildfires are caused by three components reacting to one another: fuel, heat, and oxygen. This is also what some professionals refer to as “the fire triangle,” due to the relationship between all three components. A fire cannot sustain itself if it’s missing these crucial components. This diagram is a helpful demonstration of how the fire triangle works.
Wildfires are categorized by the location in which they occur. Ground fires happen closest to the forest’s soil, mainly burning organic matter. These types of fires spread slowly, often through glowing combustion—or smoldering—in which the fire doesn’t quite burst into flames. Surface fires happen above the forest floor and can reach a height up to 1.3 meters high. These fires emit flames across the ground, consuming natural debris. The most dangerous, and fastest-spreading wildfires are known as crown fires. Crown fires can form on their own, or as a result of surface fires, which can reach a height up to 1.3 meters high. These fires occur in treetops, spreading quickly from one treetop to the next.
Once wildfires are started, they can spread at a rapid pace often traveling at speeds up to 12.5 mph. Wind can greatly influence the speed and nature of a wildfire by carrying sparks and flames across forests and adding oxygen into an already dangerous mix of heat and fuel. The National Interagency Fire Center is currently reporting that 46 wildfires are active in the US, burning 467,201 acres of land in 11 states.
How Does Climate Change Affect Forest Fires?
Because nature depends so heavily on climate conditions, climate change can negatively affect an ecosystem in several ways. The heat produced by climate change can bring on extended periods of drought. During a drought, little to no rainfall exists, meaning vegetation dries out and can be ignited easily. These dry plants also serve as an abundant source of fuel for wildfires, allowing them to burn longer.
One study shows that climate change can also bring out a more unexpected threat to forests. The mountain pine beetle is an insect known for harming plant life. Warmer temperatures can contribute to the spread of these beetles, and eventually cause trees to die out.
Climate change also affects the cycle of wildfires, and how often they appear. Typically, wildfires occur within a set period, particularly during the summer months. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the average wildfire season is now lasting three and a half months longer than it did a few decades prior. With a longer wildfire season, especially during periods of minimal rainfall, wildfires have the potential to grow even larger and become far more destructive.
What Can I Do to Help?
The common saying still rings true, and we should always keep it in mind: never play with fire. Although wildfires sometimes occur outside of our control, humans are known to be responsible for a large portion of them. We can prevent future forest fires by adhering to fire safety guidelines. While participating in outdoor recreational activities, never leave a fire unattended and always dispose of flammable materials properly. If you’re currently living in an area affected by wildfires, it’s crucial to stay informed on updates in your area and practice other precautions so you and others can stay safe.
And, of course, we can always do our part by learning more about our changing climate, and what we can do to help reverse climate change. The more we learn about climate change and its effects, the greater steps we can take to help prevent future disasters, like wildfires, from happening. You can also help by donating to organizations currently helping those affected by fires in the US.