1. Forest fire protection
Forests in Poland
Forest fire protection

2. General characteristics of Polish forests
Forest area - 29,5% (9,1 mln ha);
Coniferous species dominate the 68. 7% of the surface area of Polish forests;
Pine takes up 58. 1% of the area of all forests in Poland;
The most common age strcture of forest stands ranges from 40 to 80 years;

3. Potential forest fire hazard in Poland - about 85%
of the area.

4. The dynamics of forest fires in our country is increasing.
between there were about 3. 1 thousand forest fires over thousand of hectares
between there were about of 9. 3 thousand fires over thousand of hectares
As can be seen from the chart year 1992 was the most tragic in terms of forest fires in Poland. In this year 5845 hectares burned, because of sparkling train brake pads.

5. HOW DOES WILDLAND FIRE SPREAD?
Each classification intensity depends on the quantity and types of fuels involved and their moisture content. These conditions have an effect on fire intensity and will determine how fast the fire will spread.

6. The three primary classes of wildland fires are surface, crown, and ground fires.
Ground fires, burn organic material in the soil. This is a slower burning fire, usually under litter or under vegetation. They burn by glowing combustion.
Surface fires,burn on the surface of the ground. These fires spread quickly, burn dry leaves, broken twigs and branches and other materials on the ground.
Crown fires, burn with huge flames and have intense heat and power. They burn from tree top to tree top and spread very quickly with the wind and heat. It is even worse if they are
exposed on steep slopes.

7. Forest fire is caused by:
age of forest
machines and devices
adult and youth indiscretion
train sparking
illegal landfills
power lines damage
arson
contact between heated catalyst and plant material
cigarette butts
lighting
illegal bonfire
weather condition
play with matches
grass burning
Forest fire protection symbol “Protect forests from fire”

8. Illegal landfills
On 16th April we went for a walk to check surrounding forests in terms of illegal landfills. On the area of 1 ha we found 3 illegal dumps. Among them there was large amount of electronic waste, car tyres, and about 150 glass bottles or broken glasses, which could trigger a fire.

9. How it works?
Glass has ability to focus sunlight. It works like lens. If the Sun shines strongly enough and the Sun’s rays come through eg. a glass bottle at right angles, it will cause light energy focus in one point and warm up this place. If the place becomes very hot, it can trigger a fire.

10. Fire-extinguishing excavation below fire level
creation insulating strips
extinguishing with water
sand filling
suppressing by branches striking
using firestop foam
According to the size of fire area emergency service use fire fighting equipment, cars or aircraft with pulverize extinguishing agent.

11. Why we should protect forests?
Forests - the lungs of the Earth, filter the air, absorb carbon dioxide and pollution. In return they give people and all the animals, oxygen which is necessary for life. It is an ecosystem full of biodiversity, though in close connection as one body. If the forests did not exist, our being would be impossible. That is why fire protection is very significant for all of people.

12. How about fire protection?
There are many ways which are used to protect forests from fires. Poland has its own programme about how to save more and more forest areas from fires which are becoming very common nowadays. The rangers’ duty is to take care of forest and to react in every risky situations. They have a huge responsibility of making forest a safe place.

13. The fire protection plan
building in the vicinity of forests:
points which can be used to draw water to fire-fighting
the road pavement to allow the passage of heavy fire-fighting equipment
the headquarters of the firefighters
emergency communications points
points where firefighters can store their equipment

14. determining the category of forest fire risk
evaluation of the possibility of ignition of the lowest undergrowth
determination of probable development time of fire from its inception to commencement of action by firefighters
development of detection systems and fire alarm

15. Forests after fires
Fires quickly digest the swaths of stands by destroying quickly the work of foresters and nature. It takes decades to recreate natural environment. Due to the fire animals and plants which lived in forest suffer from hunger and lack of shelter.

16. References:

17. Realised by: Kaszyca Aleksandra IIa Mak Dorota IIa Rogowska Alicja IIa
Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Tadeusza Kościuszki w Sycowie