FOREST FIRE

INTRODUCTION The most common hazard

in forests is forests fire. They pose a threat not only to the forest wealth but also to the entire regime to fauna and flora seriously disturbing the bio-diversity and the ecology and environment of a region.

During summer, when there is no rain for months, the forests become littered with dry senescent leaves and twinges, which could burst into flames ignited by the slightest spark.

Forest fire causes imbalances in nature and endangers biodiversity by reducing faunal and floral wealth. Traditional methods of fire prevention are not proving effective and it is now essential to raise public awareness on the matter, particularly among those people who live close to or in forested areas.

Forest fire causes

CAUSES OF FOREST FIRE Causes of forest fires can be divided into two broad

categories: environmental (which are beyond control) and human related (which are controllable).

ENVIRONMENTAL Many forest fires start

from natural causes such as lightning which set tr ees on fire. However, rain extinguishes such fires without causing much damage.

High atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) offer favorable circumstance for a fire to start.

Environmental causes are largely related to climatic conditions such as temperature, wind speed and direction, level of moisture in soil and atmosphere and duration of dry spells.

Environmental causes

oFire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette, electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material.

oHUMAN RELATED

Human Related causes Result from human activity as well as methods of

forest management.  These can be intentional or unintentional, for example:

Graziers and gatherers of various forest products starting small fires to obtain good grazing grass as well as to facilitate gathering of minor forest produce.

The centuries old practice of shifting cultivation (especially in the North-Eastern region of India and inparts of the States of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh).

The use of fires by villagers to ward off wild animals

fires lit intentionally by people living around forests for recreation

The causes of forest fire have been increasing rapidly. The problem has been accentuated by the growing human and cattle population. People enter forests ever more frequentlyto graze cattle, collect fuelwood, timber and other minorforest produce. It has been estimated that 90% of forest fires in India are man-made

EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE loss of valuable timber

resources degradation of catchment areas loss of biodiversity and

extinction of plants and animals loss of wildlife habitat and

depletion of wildlife loss of natural regeneration and

reduction in forest cover global warming loss of carbon sink resource

and increase in percentage of CO2 in atmosphere

change in the microclimate of the area with unhealthy living conditions

soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and production

ozone layer depletion health problems leading to diseases loss of livelihood for tribal people and

the rural poor, as approximately 300 million people are directly dependent upon collection of non-timber forest products from forest areas for their livelihood.

EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE

Forest ecosystemChange in landscapeEffect on photosynthesisEffect on food webEffect on seed capacityEffect on new recruitsLoss of v aluable timber resources. Degradation of catchment areas. Loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and animals. Loss of wild-life, habitat and depletion of wild-life. Loss of natural regeneration and reduction in forest cover.

IMPACTS OF FOREST FIRE

Global warming.Loss of carbon sink resource and increase in percentage of C02 in the atmosphere.Change in the microclimate of the area with unhealthy living conditions.Soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and production.Ozone layer depletion.Health problems leading to disease.Loss of livelihood for the tribal and rural poor, as approximately 300 million people (including 70 million tribal) are dependent upon collection of non-timber forest products from the forest areas for their livelihood.

IMPACTS OF FOREST FIRE

CASE STUDYTHE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE & PESHTIGO

FIRE The Great Chicago Fire

was a conflagration that burned from October 8, to October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about 3.3 square miles (9 km2) in Chicago.

Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, the rebuilding that began helped develop Chicago as one of the most populous and economically important American cities.

The traditional account of the origin of the fire is that it was started by a cow kicking over a lantern in the barn , but the official report could not determine the exact cause.

The fire's spread was aided by the city's use of wood as the predominant building material, a drought prior to the fire, and strong winds from the southwest that carried flying embers toward the heart of the city. More than ⅔ of the structures in Chicago at the time of the fire were made entirely of wood.

After two days of the fire burning out of control, rain helped douse the remaining fire. City officials estimated that more than 300 people died in the fire and more than 100,000 were left homeless.

The Peshtigo Fire was a forest fire that took place on October 8, 1871 in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Coordinates 45.05°N 87.75°W. On the same day as the Peshtigo and Chicago fires the cities of Holland and Manistee, Michigan, across Lake Michigan, also burned.

On the day of the fire, a cold front moved in from the west, bringing strong winds that fanned smaller fires and escalated them to massive proportions. A firestorm ensued.

By the time it was over, 4,860 km² or 1.2 million acres of forest had been consumed. Twelve communities were destroyed. An accurate death toll has never been determined because local records were destroyed in the fire. Between 1,200 and 2,500 people are thought to have lost their lives.