Wildfires are uncontrollable fires which CASE STUDY: AUSTRAILA 2020
destroy forests, grasslands and other areas Due to hot (was over 40 degrees) and dry climate with no rain and strong winds so fires can start and spr
of vegetation. They usually occur in rural MANAGEMENT – fire breaks created to try and stop the spread, i.e. gaps in vegetation, spraying cold wa
areas but they can reach inhabited areas an attempt to stop it or slow it down, evacuating people in most at risk areas, aircrafts were used to ‘fire
they will destroy settlements. onto the fire.
IMPACTS – 7.7 million hectares in the south of the country,
CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR WILDFIRES: New South Wales – 5 million hectares of forest destroyed, 1300 homes destroyed, around 130 fires burn
• Closely spaced trees so fire can travel state, 24 people died .
easily, some trees like eucalyptus Victoria – around 800000 hectares' have been burnt, 43 homes destroyed, 2 people died, 1000 people w
contain lots of oil so it can burn easily. state of disaster was declared in the worst effected areas.
• Dry and hot conditions so vegetation South Australia – more than 80 home destroyed in Adelaide hills region, very bad air quality.
dries up and becomes more flammable.
Strong winds provide more oxygen so
Wildfires can spread at 6.7 mph if it’s a forest fire and up to 14m
the fire can burn and spread easily.
WILDFIRES fire. Since fires can drive thunderstorms, increasing lightning an
fires
MANAGEMENT OF WILFIRES:
MITIGATION – removing highly flammable vegetation,
thinning trees, creating fire breaks i.e. walkways/driveways CASE STUDY: ALBERTA 2016
and planting more vegetation with high moisture content. Suspected to be human caused, although the conditions were hot and dry so the fire was a
PREVENTION – educating people to not leave fires rapidly.
unattended and avoid spilling flammable material that can SOCIAL IMPACTS – evacuation of entire city (900000 people forced to flee fort mcmurray)
catch fire easily. and buildings burnt, movement in area was restricted so jobs were effected, water supplie
ADAPTATION – identifying the areas where the wildfire risk contaminated as untreated water was put into the supply to assist fire fighters.
is, then trying to prevent it and have an evacuation plan in PHYSICAL IMPACTS – ecosystem effected, peaty soils could reignite anytime until the first
place for the most at risk areas. Gather resources. Make sure carbon dioxide went into the atmosphere, toxins released from burning the trees, ash fro
the fire brigade are prepared and other emergency services. washed into water contributing to pollution.
POLICIAL – added to climate change, had to coordinate the evacuation and the safe re en
CAUSES OF WILDFIRES: people, reconstruction programmes had to be coordinated.
NATURAL – lightning if it occurs without much rain or ECONOMIC – insurance companies estimated there would be $9 billion of damage, 1/3 of
volcanic eruptions which produce hot lava and ash which evacuated and transport was effected.
can start fires. RESPONSES – firefighters sent from other countries to aid in the fire (south Africa sent ov
HUMAN – dropping cigarettes, not putting out barbeques or fighters to help, aid given from the Canadian red cross to help with impacts.
campfires out/ letting them get out of control or arson.
destroy forests, grasslands and other areas Due to hot (was over 40 degrees) and dry climate with no rain and strong winds so fires can start and spr
of vegetation. They usually occur in rural MANAGEMENT – fire breaks created to try and stop the spread, i.e. gaps in vegetation, spraying cold wa
areas but they can reach inhabited areas an attempt to stop it or slow it down, evacuating people in most at risk areas, aircrafts were used to ‘fire
they will destroy settlements. onto the fire.
IMPACTS – 7.7 million hectares in the south of the country,
CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR WILDFIRES: New South Wales – 5 million hectares of forest destroyed, 1300 homes destroyed, around 130 fires burn
• Closely spaced trees so fire can travel state, 24 people died .
easily, some trees like eucalyptus Victoria – around 800000 hectares' have been burnt, 43 homes destroyed, 2 people died, 1000 people w
contain lots of oil so it can burn easily. state of disaster was declared in the worst effected areas.
• Dry and hot conditions so vegetation South Australia – more than 80 home destroyed in Adelaide hills region, very bad air quality.
dries up and becomes more flammable.
Strong winds provide more oxygen so
Wildfires can spread at 6.7 mph if it’s a forest fire and up to 14m
the fire can burn and spread easily.
WILDFIRES fire. Since fires can drive thunderstorms, increasing lightning an
fires
MANAGEMENT OF WILFIRES:
MITIGATION – removing highly flammable vegetation,
thinning trees, creating fire breaks i.e. walkways/driveways CASE STUDY: ALBERTA 2016
and planting more vegetation with high moisture content. Suspected to be human caused, although the conditions were hot and dry so the fire was a
PREVENTION – educating people to not leave fires rapidly.
unattended and avoid spilling flammable material that can SOCIAL IMPACTS – evacuation of entire city (900000 people forced to flee fort mcmurray)
catch fire easily. and buildings burnt, movement in area was restricted so jobs were effected, water supplie
ADAPTATION – identifying the areas where the wildfire risk contaminated as untreated water was put into the supply to assist fire fighters.
is, then trying to prevent it and have an evacuation plan in PHYSICAL IMPACTS – ecosystem effected, peaty soils could reignite anytime until the first
place for the most at risk areas. Gather resources. Make sure carbon dioxide went into the atmosphere, toxins released from burning the trees, ash fro
the fire brigade are prepared and other emergency services. washed into water contributing to pollution.
POLICIAL – added to climate change, had to coordinate the evacuation and the safe re en
CAUSES OF WILDFIRES: people, reconstruction programmes had to be coordinated.
NATURAL – lightning if it occurs without much rain or ECONOMIC – insurance companies estimated there would be $9 billion of damage, 1/3 of
volcanic eruptions which produce hot lava and ash which evacuated and transport was effected.
can start fires. RESPONSES – firefighters sent from other countries to aid in the fire (south Africa sent ov
HUMAN – dropping cigarettes, not putting out barbeques or fighters to help, aid given from the Canadian red cross to help with impacts.
campfires out/ letting them get out of control or arson.
