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Context:

Air pollution caused by wildfires is attributable to more than 1.5 million deaths a year globally, albeit with significant geographical and socioeconomic disparities, a new major study has found.

Key facts

What are Wildfires?

A wildfire, forest fire, or bushfire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation.

Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire (in Australia), desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Some natural forest ecosystems depend on wildfire.

Wildfires are different from controlled or prescribed burning, which are carried out to provide a benefit for people. Modern forest management often engages in prescribed burns to mitigate fire risk and promote natural forest cycles.

Causes of Wildfires:

Natural causes: Natural occurrences that can ignite wildfires without the involvement of humans include lightning, volcanic eruptions, sparks from rock falls, and spontaneous combustions.

Human activity: Sources of human-caused fire may include arson, accidental ignition, or the uncontrolled use of fire in land-clearing and agriculture such as the slash-and-burn farming in Southeast Asia. In the tropics, farmers often practice the slash-and-burn method of clearing fields during the dry season.

Types of Wildfires:

How can wildfire risks be mitigated?

• Defensible Space: Create a buffer zone around homes by clearing vegetation and combustible materials to slow or stop wildfire spread.
• Fuel Management: Reduce flammable vegetation, thin tree canopies, and remove dead wood to lower fire intensity and spread.
• Controlled Burns: Intentionally set fires under controlled conditions to consume flammable materials and reduce wildfire risk.
• Firebreaks and Vegetation Gaps: Use natural features (rivers) or man-made features (roads) to interrupt wildfire progress.
• Building Design: Use fire-resistant materials and implement fire-safe landscape designs to reduce fire spread.
• Emergency Planning: Develop clear evacuation routes and communication protocols to ensure swift action in emergencies.
• Community Education: Educate residents on wildfire risks and how to reduce and respond to them effectively.
• Early Detection Systems: Improve systems to detect wildfires early, enabling rapid response to limit their impact.
• Collaborative Planning: Coordinate efforts between landowners, government agencies, and jurisdictions for effective wildfire management.
• Fire-Adaptive Communities: Integrate land-use planning, building codes, and homeowner education to live safely with wildfire threats.

READ ABOUT

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/forest-fires-in-himalayas#:~:text=Health%20Hazards%3A,the%20health%20of%20local%20populations.

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/wildfires-8

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/wildfires-27

Source:

earth.org

nationalgeograpgic