An average of more than five million acres of U.S. forests burn each year. Extinguishing these fires cost $1 billion, and they destroy $500 billion worth of property. Forest fires are responsible for the deaths of at least three thousand people yearly (Courtley, 2012).
For fires to burn, there are three necessities. They include fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Fuel could be trees, brush, or any other flammable materials near a fire. The greater the fuel source, the greater the fire. Natural or human resources provide the heat source, and oxygen is found in the air.(National Geographic, 2014)
As mentioned above, causes for fires may be attributed to natural factors. This includes things like lightning. Human carelessness like campfires or cigarettes are also causes. Fires are also caused by arson. In trying to imagine putting a forest fire into perspective, I thought about small campfires or fires in a fireplace; in watching them you can see the destructive power a fire has, as well as how quickly it can turn something to ash. A forest fire is on such a larger scale, and putting it out is an incredibly difficult feat. Risk can be assessed in many ways, and there are a number of government agencies which monitor national areas susceptible to fire. Some include the National Weather Service and U.S. Forest Service (Courtley, 2012). This is beneficial for individuals living near or present in fire-prone regions. It is important not to ignore official alerts.
If you are venturing into forests or brush areas during periods where there is a risk of fire, Courtley suggests it is important to be aware of the location of natural firebreaks (rivers, lakes, ravines, and paths purposely cleared of trees). You should try to stay in close proximity to these areas. If you are in a forest or brush area and you smell smoke, that should be an immediate call to move to a safe area. What may be problematic is that the smoke alone does not indicate which direction the fire is approaching from, but you can assume that fires will travel more intensely in the direction the wind is blowing from.
Fires are occur in most areas of the U.S., but most prominently in the Western States which provide conditions beneficial for a fire like drought, heat, and frequent thunderstorms (National Geographic, 2014).
Restoring burned forests to healthy ecosystems is beneficial in limiting damage and preventing future forest fires.
References:
Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books
“Wildfires Article, Forest Fires Information, Wildland Fires Facts — National Geographic.” National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2014. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/wildfires/>.
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