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Forest
Fires
 A
forest fire, also called a wildfire, is any
unplanned fire or unwanted fire in a forest, prairie, or grass. The hazards
in forest fires are divided into two main parts. The first
hazard is that the fire
will destroy property or spread to near-by houses and second is the fire will pollute the air.
Forest
fires are caused by a several major factors. One main cause is
the combination of environment and temperature. Forest fires occur when the ground
is extremely dry, when it is hot, and when the wind blows around dead
and dry plants. The
second is natural causes such as lightning. Lightning can hit a dry plant
or tree and ignite it. Another factor is human carelessness. Fires
can be started by barbeques, cigarettes, campfires, etc.
Fires can also be caused by garbage that goes up in flame
spontaneously from chemical
reactions.
There
are a number of types of forest fires:
-
Ground fires - the highest layer of
leaves and dry plants on the ground is burning. This type of fire is
put out by isolating it from more flammable
materials.
-
Underground fires - the bottom layer of
dead leaves and plants are burning. The special thing about
these fires is that the fire underground keeps keeps burning even
though the fire on the surface has been put out. These fires are put
out by taking off the top layers and isolating the fire underneath.
-
Fires that attack the trunks of the
trees and the bushes. This type usually starts as a ground
fire and eats it's way up. This type of fire can be put out
with water.
Forest Fire Prevention
-
Make sure to put out all camp fires
after done.
-
Carefully dispose of hot materials such
as charcoal.
-
Obey all laws about open fires,
especially in campsites.
-
Make sure to keep flammable objects
away from the fire.
-
Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
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