Sarah+Jacob

= __**FoReSt FiReS. (: **__ = = =

What Are They? = =  Forest fires, or wildfires, are a natural occurrence that are often used to signify an uncontrolled or intense fire that breaks out in wooded areas due to many man made causes. They may have many benefits, as well as many disadvantages. Forest fires generally occur during days with strong winds and on years of drought.

  What Are the Causes?

Forest fires are often cause by lightning strikes, volcanic activity, human carelessness, underground coal fires, and slash-and-burn farming. Since lightning strikes are often associated with rain, the wildfire generally gets put out by the rain. Pyroclastic clouds, generated from active volcanoes, are one of the main causes of forest fires. Human carelessness generally involves people using fireworks and the fireworks catch a tree on fire, then it goes from there. Underground coal fires cause wildfires due to the burning of slow and flameless forms of combustion below Earth's surface.

Benefits of Forest Fires Without forest fires, the build up of vegetation in a forest may prevent certain seeds from germinating and prevent the growth of new trees. Forests that do not have a regular occurrence of a fire have no way of destroying some of the thick vegetation that that grows, therefore causing a major problem. The forest grows extremely dense and becomes   a massive source of fuel for future fires, making fires that will burn much hotter and more destructive to the environment. Yet, but not least, forest fires open the forest floor which allows sunlight in for more growth of different species, and the ash left behind puts plenty of nutrients into the soil.

Disadvantages of Forest Fires 

There are many disadvantages of forest fires also. Forest fires are the loss of habitats for many well known species. Occasionally, the fires may cause soil damage which may result in erosion. That is very rare to occur though. Forest fires generally result in uncontrolled burns, which results in millions of dollars worth of all the homes and property that is destroyed. Sometimes, forest fires have the potential to cause human deaths and serious injuries.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 180%;">Fire Safety <span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">There are many precautions you should take while experiencing a forest fire. Fires are very media type="custom" key="5845279" align="right"<span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> unpredictable, so ALWAYS be prepared. Fires can also get out of control very easily,and can burn for a long period of time. In time of which a fire may occur, always evacuate your home if told to do so. This one simple precaution may just save your life. Learn and teach safe fire practices to insure completely safety. Use fire-resistant materials when building, renovating, or retrofitting a structure. Create a safety zone to separate your home from combustible plants and vegetation that would most likely cause your home to catch on fire. <span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Every so often, make sure to check for fire hazards in or around your home. You never know what may be hiding!

<span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 180%;">Where do they occur?

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Forest fires occur on all continents except Antarctica. They are most common where climates are wet enough to allow trees and shrubs to grow, but have extended dry, hot periods. The most noted areas of these forest fires would include the Western Cape of South Africa, vegetated areas of Australia, and all throughout grasslands and the dry forests of Europe and North America.

Western U.S. fires tend to be the most dramatic during fall and summer. Southern fires are hardest to fight in early spring and late winter due to the fallen branches, leaves, and other materials that dry out and become highly flammable. Forest fires that occur in forests and grasslands in North America are prevalent in the fall and winter, summer, especially during dry periods with an increase in high winds and dead fuels.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 180%;"> Fire Ecology <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Forest fires effect the surrounding land and ecosystems around it. Many animals lose their habitats to the fires, or perish. Many species have become adapted to these ecosystems though. They are called fire tolerant plants. Fire tolerant species are able to withstand some forms of fire and grow despite some damage that may occur during the fire. Some people refer to these plants as "resprouters." Ecologists have shown that some species of "resprouters" may store extra energy in their roots for recovery and for the re-growth of that species following a fire. This will help them grow back more quickly and easily.

Fire intolerant species tend to be extremely flammable and will be completely destroyed by a forest fire. They have no chance of being able to withstand a fire. In time, some of these plants and their seeds may slowly fade from the ecosystem after a fire, or multiple fires, and may never return to that same ecosystem again. Therefore, making them become endangered. The most common types of fire intolerant species are the White pine, American beech, red maple, red and white oak, and aspen.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 180%;">How do the fires spread? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Fires spread at many different rates, depending on the wind and the slope of the terrain, which would be the topography of the land. Fires may burn at up to three different levels. They are ground fires, surface fires, and crown fires. Ground fires, which burn on the ground or below the vegetation under the ground, are often best controlled by digging trenches. These trenches or "firelines" are dug deep down into the mineral soil layer, which has no way of burning. Eventually, the fire reaches one of these "firelines" and it can no longer burn due to the minerals in the soil. The fire then extinguishes itself because it is starved of fuel. Ground fires are very difficult to detect and control. Most of the time, they often rekindle.

Surface fires may even burn through dead plant material that is on the ground. They tend to move more quicker, requiring more manpower and equipment. Portable backpacks, along with packs and fire breaks are used to put out these surface fires out. Those methods require a lot of labor though and are very straining on a person.

Crown fires are the most the most dangerous way a fire may burn and they tend to spread the fastest. These fires occur in the tops of trees where it is very easily for them to spread because they can literally "jump" from crown to crown. Occasionally, when there are harsh wind conditions, crown fires have been known to even cross rivers and even lakes. Due to the intensity of these fires, aerial bombing with water and/or fire retardant chemicals are called in to put out these dangerous fires.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

<span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 180%;">Sources <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2009/12/smokey-got-it-wrong.html <span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/forestfires/index.shtml

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire

<span style="color: #ffb300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> http://forestry.about.com/b/2010/03/02/forest-fire-basics-and-the-behavior-of-forest-fires.htm

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://www.borealforest.org/world/innova/fire_suppression.htm