An introduction to wildfires and their importance for ecosystems
Written by Haritha, Kavya, and Akshaya
It was not too long ago when the entire West Coast was blanketed with smoke and the day sky remained a red-orange hue, prompting people to question whether we had translocated to Mars. Given the current circumstances in California, as well as other places around the country, you are probably well aware of wildfires and the harm they can cause. It seems that wildfires are becoming more common and are engulfing more land each year, resulting in hazardous air conditions and destroying people’s homes. It is important for us to understand the reason behind these fires and to learn how best to manage their recurrence.
What are Wildfires and are there any classifications?
Wildfires are most often caused by humans, through carelessness or by accident. Some ways this can happen are when individuals do not properly put out their campfires or burn debris, as well as not properly disposing of cigarettes. They not only destroy our homes, but wildlife
habitats and natural resources which are already depleting. Wildfires are very hard to control because they spread wide and quickly, and as the name suggests, they are fires which “burn out of control in a natural area,” (1). The way these wildfires are categorized are by their size. There are classifications of how many acres they cover, ranging from less than 1 acre to more than 5,000 acres (2). By using different letters to classify a wildfire, one can get to understand the size and impact of each wildfire.
Why are they important?
Wildfires have always been a part of nature. They are a natural phenomenon and have benefits on ecosystems. Wildfires clear out dead and decaying organic matter and prevent it from building up on the soil (6). This allows plants and animals to access nutrients from the soil (6). By clearing out dead and decaying material from the top layers of the soil, the healthier parts of the ecosystem (such as new plants) have a chance to thrive (6). Therefore, controlled wildfires increase soil fertility, thereby allowing new plants to grow (6). Wildfires also allow some plants to complete their life cycles. For example, seeds of the pine species are enclosed in pine cones (6). In order for these seeds to be dispersed and grow into new trees, there needs to be a wildfire. Wildfires melt the ‘pitch,’ which is present on the outside of the pine cones, and allows the seeds to be released (6). Other plants such as lilies also require fire for seed germination (6).
Some animals also depend on wildfires to complete their life cycle (6). The Karner blue butterfly caterpillar feeds on a plant called lupine. This plant thrives only in the presence of wildfires (6). If there are no wildfires, the caterpillar doesn’t get enough food to eat and does not complete its life cycle (6). Wildfires also help to get rid of species that invade the ecosystem (6). The animals that live in fire-prone areas find ways to adapt to regular wildfires. However, those that are not used to wildfire-prone environments are more likely to get eradicated (6). However, only controlled wildfires are beneficial to species.
Controlled wildfires are essential for ecosystems and clear out dead and decaying organic matter
Why is California suffering so much?
Historical trend of wildfires
There are many reasons as to why the wildfires happen every year in California. Every summer, there are hurricane-speed winds that blow across the Pacific and into California (7). When a power line breaks due to these powerful winds, a fire can start (7). Fires also start when a tree or branch falls over a power line, thereby causing it to snap (7). However, California has a long history of wildfires. From the 1870s - 1920s, major fires were caused mainly due to locomotives (7). Fires today, however, burn thrice as large as fires in the past (7). This is because fossil fuels that are burnt to generate heat and electricity release more greenhouse gas emissions than many other industries (7). The increase in atmospheric heat as well as the California drought are causing wildfires that burn stronger and longer (7).
Native American Way of using controlled fires?
Fires have always been a part of the environmental agenda to stimulate regrowth. Native Americans understood the importance of forest fires and used it to their advantage. They used the fires to shape the landscape and control the varieties of vegetation that grew. However, after Western settlement in the Americas, controlled and cultured fires were prohibited (4). These man-made fires helped reduce the dry vegetation in the forest floors and helped rejuvenate the forests by stimulating growth of new plants. Native Americans recognized the importance of these fires and incorporated them in their culture as an annual spiritually cleansing process (4). Their practice kept the fires controlled and beneficial to the environment. It is crucial that local agencies incorporate ideas and values from indigenous people whose practices have proven to be effective in mitigating natural disasters.
How are firefighters combating wildfires?
Firefighters always begin their process of stopping wildfires by properly preparing for them. This is not only in the hands of firefighters though, but also those of landowners and other authorities (5). If the amount of vegetation that can be consumed from a fire is reduced, it would automatically decrease its impact by using machinery or grazing animals (5). Additionally, control lines can be used in order to stop the spread of a fire such as having an area where there is no vegetation or with roads (5). For firefighters, it is important for them to utilize proper and efficient techniques to control the wildfires, which include using control lines. There are other specific techniques such as ‘burning out,’ which means burning the brushes inside the control lines so that the fire can’t escape further, or a ‘backburn,’ which uses a controlled blaze on the downwind of the fire (3). Usually, the first step with a fire is spotting the fire and figuring out how to best stop it, then going ahead with a first attack and an extended one if necessary (5). Explosives are also used to rid of dense areas or any fallen trees, and sometimes water is used to help put out the fires. Planes and helicopters are used to pour water which typically has a foam retardant in it that insulates the fuel that has not been burned yet (3).
Fire in Stockton, California
What can we do to help?
In recent years, wildfires have been caused by careless human activities. It is important to understand the consequences of our actions, specifically those that can have detrimental effects on the environment. Along with climate change, unextinguished camp fires, fireworks, and smoking have all led to enormous wildfires (8). While dealing with fire outdoors, it is important to properly distinguish fires and notify authorities of unattended fires. We all must also advocate for proper public guidelines and laws that support indigenous involvement in dealing with the native landscapes.
In this article, we briefed you on some general information about wildfires and how they are dealt with. Although wildfires may seem daunting, we must also understand the importance they play in the health and prosperity of the environment. In the next article, we will discuss the effects of the wildfires on wildlife and the specific consequences of wildfires.
References:
Image References:
Comments