Forest Fires

HAZARDS!!!

By Jack and Graeme

What will we discuss?

• What is a hazard?• Fire- key ingredients• Causes• Types of fire• Where in the forest layer do they affect?• Where?• LEDC Case study- Indonesia• MEDC Case study - Australia

Even More……..

• El Nino• General Impacts LEDC/ MEDC• Prediction• Management• Stopping forest fire• Prevention• Public Perceptions• Conclusions• Possible Exam questions

Remember…..

A Hazard is…..• “The possible threat of of a natural disaster

upon humans”• An example of this is Forest Fires

The key Ingredients of fire:

Causes

•NATURAL EVENTS: lightening strikes, drought, anticyclones

•HUMAN ACTIONS: Camp fires, Arson, BBQs, smoking, negligence, fireworks

•PRESCRIBED FIRE: This is used to relive the possible hazard of further fires and causes less damage

90% of forest fires are human caused: www.forestfirecontrol.com

The Three Types of Forest Fires

GROUND FIRE

Burns the humus layer of the forest floor but doesn’t burn above the

surface

SURFACE FIRES

Burn the forest undergrowth and the surface layer

CROWN FIRES

Advance through the tops of the trees

or shrubs

These layers are shown on the next slide…………..

Layers of the forest

Ground fire

Surface fire

Crown fire

Where do forest fires happen and why?

They can happen anywhere in the world due to the numerous causes which include:

•Drought- Portugal Aug 2003

•Human negligence- America 2001

•High Temperatures and wind- Melbourne Australia Jan 2003

LEDC CASE STUDY – 1997-98, East Kalimantan Indonesia

CAUSEForest fires affect 5.2 million hectares in the east of the Kalimantan area, the causes of which are:

•Prolonged drought periods caused as a result of the El Nino

•Slash and burn farming

•Arson by financial companies and locals wanting compensation for loss of land.

•Incidental fires started by disregarded cigars on dry ground.

•Locals burning illegal logging storage areas in protest.

- EFFECTS•Loss of land, such as the local forest gardens

•Loss of materials like rubber trees, crops and forest resources.

•Health problems like respiratory difficulty due to the actual fire, and malnutrition due to lost crops.

•Damage to the infrastructure, such as the poorly laid roads, which were un-usable after the fire.

+ EFFECTS•Local governing bodies have stopped the illegal operations of the PALM OIL COMPANY and illegal loggers. This means a reduced chance of the issue re-occurring.

MEDC CASE STUDY – AUSTRALIA, JANUARY 2003

The places which are particularly at risk in Australia are:

•Canberra

•Adelaide

•Melbourne

This is because they have the highest risk of Drought and High Temperatures. El Nino is discussed later on

Background

• Forest fires every year• Uncontrollable forest burned through

suburban streets in SE states• NS Wales and Victoria particularly affected

Causes

• Arson committed by a volunteer fire fighter• Started 6 fires in 12 weeks• Dry ground due to El Nino aggravated

drought• Eucalyptus (Australia’s native plant)with

high oil content made the fire burn more• Fires fanned by 40mph winds

ImpactsSOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC

•4 Dead•530 homes in flames•Thredbo ski resort evacuated•Cooma and Jindbyne- 1000 evacuated

•260,000 hectares of Victoria National park burnt down

•Small businesses in Sydney suburbs destroyed•Built new homes

Mitigation“ Lessening the effects of the

Hazard through thorough planning”

• Back burning• Also there was light rain which helped to

put the fire out

El NinoWhat is it?

•A change in water temperature in the South pacific Ocean and occurs about every 3- 7 years

In normal conditions the wind blows east to west but this causes it to slow or even reverse This causes water temperature to warm in the east rather than the west When the water is heated the air above it is also heated The causes clouds to form rather than rain to fall. Particularly in Indonesia and the Western Pacific El Nino water is warmed in the Eastern Pacific in Ecuador and Peru

IMPACTS

D= Drought

W= Rain

El Nino Conditions

Normal trade winds

Summary of Impacts

• Drought Conditions in Australia• Excessive rain and flooding in S. America• Death of fish die to change in water

temperatures

Impacts in an MEDC

Social: these impacts are loss of homes, although fire services are of an advanced standard, sometimes the fires are uncontrollable so wreak havoc in small settlements near to the blaze. Also, loss of income for lumber company workers who will, obviously, be out of employment.

Environmental: Loss of habitats of different varieties of birds, small mammals and larger ones such as bears. Also CO2 is released ( due to the fact that trees are large carbon stores)which contributes the green-house effect.

Economic: Impacts on economy as expenditure increases on emergency services, therefore could be decreases in other sectors. Also, the revenue lumber companies would have made during usual business is lost.

Impacts on an LEDC

Social: Poor quality homes, and poorly planned settlements, burn quickly as there are no/very few building regulations to prevent damage. Also, the homes are often built too close to the hazard in the first place, as space is at a premium so most available land is built upon.

Environmental: Again, habitats of wild life are lost to the hazard, and also CO2 is released. These are very similar to the MEDC, but due to lack of quality emergency services, the impacts are often greater.

Economic: Farmland is damaged due the fire, which can leave it un-fertile, so the money which farming would’ve made is no longer contributed to the economy. Also, jobs in things such as factories and business may be jeopardised if the transport routes into urban areas are damaged.

Prediction•See where will be at threat at certain times

•USA has daily ‘Fire Danger Forecasts’

•WFAS and NFDRS – A Wildfire Assessment System and National Fire Danger Rating System

•Daily situation summary report to media- keeps public informed and made aware of danger

ManagementAfter 2000 forest fire USA planned following precautions:

1. Continue to make fire fighting resources available

2. Restore landscapes and rebuild communities that have been economically damaged

3. Work with communities and invest n fire reduction projects

4. Be accountable

How to put out a fire:

Heat must be COOLED

Oxygen must be SMOTHERED

Fuel must be REMOVED

Prevention •More fire fighter sin at risk areas

•Media campaigns in dry months against negligence

•Education in Schools

•Steep punishment for starting fire

•Back burning in controlled conditions so cannot spread

•Fire beaks e.g. stream or road which fire cannot engulf

•Sprinklers on helicopters

PUBLIC PERCEPTIONSCOUNTER URBANISATION

BUILT INTO NATURAL BUSHLAND

LITTLE APPRECIATION OF FIRES

PUBLIC IS UNAWARE!!•More than 900 homes are destroyed every year yet flammable materials are still kept in (e.g. Melbourne 1980s)

•Vegetation still kept by homes

•Inadequate fire fighting equipment

CONCLUSIONS

• Can be predicted and there are many ways of preventing them

• Education of people living near danger zones

• Creates comfort and safety although not always the case as with All hazards

Possible Exam Question

1Discuss this statement:

The impacts of Forest Fires are worse in LEDCs than MEDCs

USE CASE STUDIES