Wildfires have been a natural part of our environment since time began. Under the right circumstances these wildfires can be beneficial to an ecosystem. With poor fire management practices in the past, new population growth, and more and more people living near the edges of forested areas, forest fires have become more numerous and dangerous each year.

On average over 106,000 wildfires occur each year consuming more than 4 million acres of land and destroying more than 900 homes.

According to smokeybear.com, a wildfire is defined as being “any unwanted and unplanned fire burning in forest, shrub, or grass.”

Causes of Wildfires

Wildfires are caused in several ways. In the past a “total suppression” attitude was taken in regards to wildfires. This policy stated that all wildfires were to be suppressed immediately. This policy has caused some damage that will take years and a lot of fire management to reverse. This fire suppression tactic has caused the over-accumulation of fallen leaves, branches, dead trees, and other fuel sources. It has also caused our wildland areas to become overgrown with plants creating a dangerous fire situation. Fires that are not threatening animal life, human life, or structures are now allowed to burn themselves out. This new policy creates new vegetation and nutrients for ecosystems as well as creating future firebreaks.

Wildfires can be caused by increasingly dry, hot weather and thunderstorms carrying lightning. Even after a time of heavy rains, wind can very quickly dry out vegetation making it an ideal fire fuel.

Most devastating of all is the fact that humans cause a great many wildfires. In fact, humans cause nine out of ten wildfires and a careless smoker causes one out of ten.

The Nature of Wildfire

Fire requires three elements in order to live and these three elements are combined to create the “Fire Triangle”. The three elements are fuel, oxygen, and a heat or ignition source. Fuel includes wood, gas or other fossil fuel, coal, dry or dead trees, leaf litter, or dry grasses. A heat or ignition source can be heat produced from the sun, a lightning strike, a match, or a lit cigarette. To extinguish or control a fire one of these three elements must be eliminated or restricted.

Positive and Negative Effects of Wildfire

Wildfires consume vegetation that would otherwise become overgrown, creating ideal conditions for a catastrophic wildfire. Wildfires allow more open spaces for new and different kinds of vegetation to grow and receive sunlight. This, in turn, provides fresh nutrients and shelter for forest plants and animals. Wildfires also keep our forests healthy by consuming harmful insects and diseases.

On the negative side, wildfires can destroy homes, lives, and millions of acres of forest. The aftermath of a fire can sometimes be worse than the fire itself. Fires burn trees and plants that prevented erosion. If heavy rains occur after a fire there will be landslides, ash flows, and flash flooding that can damage property and affect the water supply.

Types of Wildfire

Prescribed burns are a type of fire prevention tool used by fire management teams. Prescribed burns mimic a natural fire and are used to counteract the negative effects of the “total suppression” policy that was used in the past. Very careful research is conducted before a prescribed burn is allowed to take place. Fire management teams must know the best place, the best time of year, and the best conditions in which to conduct their prescribed burn.

Surface fires are fires that burn through the undergrowth and leaf litter of a forest. These types of fires prevent future “crown fires” which can become very dangerous. Surface fires release nutrients that would otherwise decompose slowly, having little benefit to the ecosystem.

Crown fires spread from the ground to the top branches of trees and can move at incredible speeds. Crown fires can easily jump most firebreaks such as roads, rivers, or man-made breaks because flame lengths can be so high.

Jumping or “spot” fires are caused when burning debris are carried by the wind to distant locations and start new fires. Sometimes these smaller fires burn into each other causing one very large, very dangerous fire.

Wildland Firefighters

Wildland firefighters are our best defense against wildfires. They put their lives on the line to save our lives and our possessions. They work extremely long and demanding hours and spend great amounts of time away from their family and friends. Most of the time they spend their nights on the job and wake up the next morning to begin their rigorous work again. There are several types of firefighters and each has a special job to perform. Only a few types of firefighters are mentioned here. The USDA Forest Service employs many but others are employed by different agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and several Native American tribes.

Engine crews are used for initial attack, suppression of large fires, support of prescribed burns, and providing structure protection. An engine crew consists of three to ten firefighters that use specialized firefighting equipment. They construct fire line with hand tools, mop up hot spots, and conduct burnout operations. Engine crews are trained to use fire to create fuel breaks between the actual fire and unburned fuel. When there are no fires, engine crews perform project work such as managing trails or thinning brush, maintaining equipment, and performing practice drills. The engine itself carries special equipment that is used to spray water, foam, or chemicals. Some engines can carry up to 800 gallons of water to a fire. Some engines are four-wheel drive and are made for off-road use. Tools that are carried on an engine include hose lines and water, hose packs, Pulaskis, chainsaws, shovels, portable pumps, and radios.

Helicopters have been used in firefighting since 1947 and helitack crews help to keep the operation running smoothly. Helicopters can transport personnel and cargo as well as be equipped with buckets or tanks to drop retardant or water onto a fire. Helicopters can be equipped with special instruments to generate digital maps of fires. Helicopters have the ability to remove injured firefighters from the front line and transport them to local hospitals or other medical emergency facilities. Some firefighters are specially trained to rappel from helicopters into remote locations allowing quick access to a fire.

Hand crews consist of about eighteen to twenty men and women who come from all parts of the country and all walks of life. They construct fire line or strips of land that are cleared of all flammable materials and dug down to the mineral soil. Hand crews burn out fire areas and mop up hot spots near the edges of fires.

Smokejumpers travel all over the country and are trained to parachute from planes into rugged terrain to fight forest fires. After they have landed in their target area tools, food, and water are parachuted down after them. Smokejumpers are self-sufficient for the first 48 hours. Smokejumpers must be in excellent physical and mental condition.

Firefighters on the front line are not the only fire management personnel working to protect our lives and our possessions. Behind the scenes are several people that are just as dedicated and work just as many long and tiring hours. These people are the dispatchers, fire managers, safety specialists, electronic technicians, researchers, timekeepers, purchasing people, and others. They all work toward a common goal.

Firefighter Safety

Firefighter safety is a top priority. Crews have a lookout who is responsible for watching the fire’s behavior and anticipating dangerous situations. Safety zones are large areas where crews can move to if they are in danger. A safety zone can be a large clearing or a previously burned area. Firefighters wear fire-resistant clothing and carry special gear such as a fire shelter that protects them in times of danger. Computers can model fire behavior, provide geographic information and satellite imagery that can help to keep firefighters safe.

Fire Precaution and Prevention

The best way to prevent wildfires is to be educated and be aware. Use common sense and follow these basic rules:

• Know your county’s burning regulations for the outdoors.
• Smoke with at least a 3-foot clearing around you and put cigarettes out completely; use an ashtray.
• Don’t park vehicles on dry grass.
• Have a clearing of at least 30 feet around your home. This is called “defensible space”.
• Create fuel breaks around your home such as driveways, lawns, or gravel walkways.
• Keep leaf clutter cleaned up around the yard and roof.
• Remove all dead and overhanging branches from trees.
• Always store firewood well away from your home.
• Use construction material that is non-combustible or fire-resistant.