By Paula Mawston & Laura Chambers

Causes

Natural events: lightening strikes, drought, anticyclones Human actions: camp fires, BBQ’s, arson, smoking, negligence, agriculture 90% of forest fires are human caused -

The Three Types of Forest Fires These layers are shown on the next slide...

The following diagram shows the layers of a forest. Ground fires burn through the humus layer, surface fires burn through the surface layer and crown fires burn the canopy.

Where Do They Happen? Forest fire can occur anywhere in the world due to their numerous causes, these include: Fires caused by drought - such as the fires in Portugal in August 2003 Fires caused human negligence - such as the fires in America in 2001 High temperatures and winds caused fires in Melbourne, Australia in January 2003

LEDC Case Study East Kalimantan Indonesia

Forest fires effected more than 5.2 million ha in the East Kalimantan area. These fires had a number of causes: A prolonged drought caused by the El Nino effect Slash and burn farmers after a prolonged period of drought. Land clearing activities by oil companies, the company entered local forest gardens and burned the vegetation, some of which entered other forest gardens and the forest itself. Arson by financial companies and locals who wanted the compensation money. Incidental fires caused by discarded cigarette butts on dry ground At least one of the fires was caused by locals who burnt an illegal external loggers storage area

These fires caused problems for the locals including: Loss of land (forest gardens) Material losses such as rubber trees, crops and forest extract resources. Health problems such as respiratory problems and malnutrition due to the loss of crops. Emotional problems due to the stress brought on by fires The infrastructure was severely damaged. The fires were eventually extinguished by prolonged rain in November. As a result of these events local people and government bodies have stopped the illegal operations of the Palm oil company and the loggers.

MEDC Case Study January 2003 Australia

Areas At Risk In Australia: The following map displays the parts of Australia which are at particular risk from drought and high temperatures, resultantly they are high fire risk areas.

Every year Australia suffers forest fires. This year uncontrollable fires raged through suburban streets in south eastern states, with flames reaching 100m. New South Wales and Victoria were particularly affected. The fires were caused by: Arson by a volunteer fire fighter, who started 12 fires in 6 weeks. The ground was dry due to El-Nino aggravated drought. The event was worsened by Australia's native plant - the eucalyptus - having a high oil content, making it highly flammable. The fires were also fanned further by the 40mph winds.

The fire caused many problems for the locals including: 4 people in Canberra were left dead and 530 homes went up in flames. In the mountain villages of Cobungra 6 homes were lost. Towns such as Thredbo ski resort had to be evacuated. In Cooma and Jindbyne 1000 people had to be evacuated. Large amounts of damage were caused to the vegetation in the area hectares of Victoria National park were burnt down. 80 fires burned in the New South Wales area, some of which border Australia's largest city, Sydney.

The Australian government was helped by the weather in slowing the fires, but other fire fighting techniques were used: Light rain and cool temperatures slowed some fires. Back burning was used. In the past Australia has had a number of problems involving fires: In February 1983, 70 people were killed and 2000 homes were lost in South Australia and Victoria.

El Nino El Nino is a change in water temperature in the South Pacific Ocean, which occurs about every 3 to 7 years. In normal conditions, winds blow east to west. In times of El Nino the winds slow down, stop, and even some times reverse direction. This causes the water temperature to warm in the east rather than the west. When the temperature of the water increases it heats the air above it. The heated air rises, producing clouds that provide rain to the area around it, normally Indonesia, in the western Pacific. In El Nino water is warmed in the eastern Pacific on the shores of Peru and Ecuador

El Nino was discovered by local fishermen who noticed that changing temperatures killed their fish stock every 3 to 7 years, around Christmas time. El Nino means the Christ child or baby boy. El Nino causes: Drought conditions in Australia Excessive rain and flooding in South America Death of fish due to change in water temperatures

Prediction To predict this hazard experts try to foresee which areas are likely to be at threat from fire at certain times. In countries like the USA ‘Fire Danger Forecasts' are made daily. A Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS) and the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) have also been set up. Forest fires are taken very seriously in America. A daily situation summary report is distributed to the media so that the general public can be made aware of the danger and number of fires in nearby areas.

Management Following the 2000 forest fires the American government planned the following precautions: 1) Continue to make all necessary fire-fighting resources available. 2) Restore landscapes and rebuild communities, some communities already have suffered considerable economic losses as a result of fires, these losses will grow unless immediate action is taken to reduce further damage to resources. 3) Work directly with communities and invest in projects to reduce fire risk. 4) To be accountable.

Stopping Forest Fires In order to put out a fire the following must be done: Heat must be COOLED Oxygen must be SMOTHERED Fuel must be REMOVED

Prevention A number of tactics can be employed to help prevent forest fires, these include: Increased fire fighter numbers in at risk areas Media campaigns to warn against smoking, dropping matches or starting any form of fire in forest areas, particularly during dry months. Teaching in schools of the dangers Steep punishments for those starting fires in areas that are at risk of forest fires. Back burning, this is when small areas of land are burned under controlled conditions so that the fire cannot move any further.

Fires can be stopped spreading without human intervention, this includes what is known as a fire break. A firebreak could be a stream or road, or anything that the fire could not engulf. Helicopters can be fitted with sprinklers to try and extinguish fires.

Public Perceptions Counter-urbanisation in countries such as Australia and the USA means an invasion of natural bushland. People moving to these communities have little real appreciation of forest fires. More than 900 homes are destroyed by forest fires every year, yet flammable materials are still used in building (e.g. Melbourne 1980’s). Vegetation may be kept near homes There may be inadequate fire fighting equipment. This is an example of the unawareness that exists, even among people at the highest risk.

Forest fires can be predicted well and there are many different ways of fighting and preventing them, this means many people believe that it is not a threat. People living near danger zones are well educated and so know what the fires can do. They find comfort and safety in this, as well as confidence that fires will be predicted though his may not always be the case.