Wildfires Case Studies
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gcb2ne
caused by slash and burn deforestation on peat soils
2.6 million hectares were burnt during the fires season
500k people affected w respiratory issues
28 mil affected
$16 bil cost to indonesia
wildfires - indonesia wildfires 2015
response
- Deployed 3,700 military officers, 7,900 police, 4 planes and 18
helicopters
- New agency (BRG) responsible for restoring 2.6 million hectares
of peatland through stopping drainage and replanting- Defor-
estation moratorium- Government stopped granting new palm oil
plantation licenses in 2018
northern california
lightning strikes started 13 seperate fires
Prior to fire:- Dry winter- Heatwaves and record summer tempera-
turesDuring fire:- Diablo winds, blew embers as far as 13km ahead
of fires- La Nina event = less rainfall- Drought conditions
human contributing factors
- More rural, further from large city- COVID = resources stretched-
Huge die-off of trees had not been effectively managed, 58% of
wildfires - california august complex fires august 2020
forest is owned federally but did not manage effectively- Climate
change = hotter temps etc
impacts
- 1 death, 2 injuries- 93 buildings destroyed- Smoke causing poor
air quality = respiratory issues could cause heart and lung dam-
age- Pollution made water undrinkable- Estimated cost of $264
million- Over 1 million acres of land destoryed- Destroyed ancient
redwods and sequoias
caused by a lost hunter starting a fire to signal for help
Prior to fire:- Low humidity- Low moisture content of chaparral
shrubland- High temperaturesDuring fire:- Santa Ana winds
- 15 killed, 113 injured- 2232 homes destroyed- Estimated cost
was $1.3 billion- 273,246 acres of land destroyed- 19% of the
habitat of many endangered species was lost
contributing factors
wildfires - california cedar fires 2003
- Santa Ana winds meant it was able to spread at a rate of
3,600 acres per hour- Started early in evening, firefighters had to
turn back as cant work in the dark- San Diego had 1/3rd fewer
firefighters than average large cities- 1-2 million dead trees due to
bark beetle but delays in clearance
responses:
- California governor declared state of emergancy and activated
National Guard to assist in disater relief process- Investigations
due to critisism of firefighters being diverted
1/1
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_gcb2ne
caused by slash and burn deforestation on peat soils
2.6 million hectares were burnt during the fires season
500k people affected w respiratory issues
28 mil affected
$16 bil cost to indonesia
wildfires - indonesia wildfires 2015
response
- Deployed 3,700 military officers, 7,900 police, 4 planes and 18
helicopters
- New agency (BRG) responsible for restoring 2.6 million hectares
of peatland through stopping drainage and replanting- Defor-
estation moratorium- Government stopped granting new palm oil
plantation licenses in 2018
northern california
lightning strikes started 13 seperate fires
Prior to fire:- Dry winter- Heatwaves and record summer tempera-
turesDuring fire:- Diablo winds, blew embers as far as 13km ahead
of fires- La Nina event = less rainfall- Drought conditions
human contributing factors
- More rural, further from large city- COVID = resources stretched-
Huge die-off of trees had not been effectively managed, 58% of
wildfires - california august complex fires august 2020
forest is owned federally but did not manage effectively- Climate
change = hotter temps etc
impacts
- 1 death, 2 injuries- 93 buildings destroyed- Smoke causing poor
air quality = respiratory issues could cause heart and lung dam-
age- Pollution made water undrinkable- Estimated cost of $264
million- Over 1 million acres of land destoryed- Destroyed ancient
redwods and sequoias
caused by a lost hunter starting a fire to signal for help
Prior to fire:- Low humidity- Low moisture content of chaparral
shrubland- High temperaturesDuring fire:- Santa Ana winds
- 15 killed, 113 injured- 2232 homes destroyed- Estimated cost
was $1.3 billion- 273,246 acres of land destroyed- 19% of the
habitat of many endangered species was lost
contributing factors
wildfires - california cedar fires 2003
- Santa Ana winds meant it was able to spread at a rate of
3,600 acres per hour- Started early in evening, firefighters had to
turn back as cant work in the dark- San Diego had 1/3rd fewer
firefighters than average large cities- 1-2 million dead trees due to
bark beetle but delays in clearance
responses:
- California governor declared state of emergancy and activated
National Guard to assist in disater relief process- Investigations
due to critisism of firefighters being diverted
1/1
