1. The response of the forest flora to this natural phenomena
FOREST FIRES
The response of the forest flora to this natural phenomena

2. What is a forest fire?
Uncontrolled fire
AKA wildfires

3. What causes a wildfire?
The number one reason for wildfires in the U.S. is humans!!
Arson
Burning campfires
cigarettes
More than 80% of all wildfires
are started by humans.
2. nature

5. How does nature cause wildfires?
Lightening
Sun (if intense enough and the conditions are dry enough)

7. What is needed for a wildfire to burn?
Fire Triangle
Fuel
Flammable material surrounding a fire
Trees, grasses, homes
Oxygen
Heat source
Lightening
Human caused

8. How are forest fires stopped?
Water dousing
Spraying fire retardants
Clearing vegetation
Starves a fire of fuel so it can be contained or slowed
Starting fires
WAIT WHAT????????

9. How could starting fires help to stop them?
Controlled burning Removes undergrowth, brush and ground litter- all sources of fuel!!!!

10. Where do wildfires occur?
Anywhere the conditions are right
West- very common…….why?
Heat
Drought
Frequent thunderstorms

12. Are wildfires always bad?
NO!!!!!!! What do you think are some pros and cons to forest fires?

13. What are the cons of wildfires?
Damaging to homes
Harmful smoke

15. What are the benefits of wildfires?
Cleaning the forest floor
Providing habitat
Killing disease
New generations

16. 1. Cleaning the forest floor
Removes low growing underbrush
Cleans forest floor of debris
Nourishes the soil
This reduces competition for established trees and allows them to grow stronger and healthier

17. 2. Providing Habitat
Clears heavy brush leaving room for new grasses and shrubs which provides food and shelter for many species.
Increases water in streams……how?
Fewer plants absorbing water

18. 3. Killing Disease
Destroys pests that cause disease in trees

19. 4. New Generations Some seeds need heat to germinate
Some have leaves that are covered with flammable resins to encourage fire

20. Pine Barrens Fire

21. Long Island Pine Barrens
Fire started in August 1995
Lasted about one week
Affected about 5,000 acres

23. Review Questions What is a forest fire? What causes a forest fire?
How does nature cause wildfires?
What is needed for a wildfire to burn?
How are forest fires stopped?
How could starting fires help to stop them?
Where do wildfires occur?
Are wildfires always bad?

24. Review Questions (continued)
9. What are some cons of forest fires? 10. What are the benefits of forest fires? 11. What are the effects of a forest fire? 12. Write what you know about forest fires. For example, you could write down how they start, the damage they cause; or research a forest fire on a search engine like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.