A wildland fire can be both beneficial and harmful. It can destroy homes, property, and forests. However, it can also rejuvenate the soil and leave land for new growth.
There are plenty of causes of a wildland fire, including the weather and humans. Wildland fires cause tremendous damage in many cases and can endanger the lives of firefighters, even with the proper firefighter essentials like wildland fire boots.
Here are the leading causes of a wildland fire.
A Wildland Fire and Humans
Humans cause the most wildland fires.
When camping outside, some people choose to leave their campfires unattended. Leaving a campfire and not putting it out can quickly cause it to get out of control. It can cause a wildfire to spread.
Some people choose to become arsonists. They use matches, torches, and things like gasoline or lighter fluid. They want to create mayhem and destruction.
Fireworks are another reason for a wildland fire. Fireworks shows illuminate the sky with tons of color, but they can be destructive when they land on the ground.
A wildland firefighter is someone who fights these fires, typically using wildland fire boots. In many cases, a wildland firefighter carries firefighter essentials like a firefighter red bag checklist.
The Environment
Lighting can cause a wildfire in an instant. A strong storm with a lot of lighting can spark thousands of lightning bolts. Lightning can cause a fire to smolder for days before it begins to spread.
A drought can cause the grass and trees in a forest to become very dry. Combined with intense heat and windy weather, a wildfire or a brush fire can spread quickly. They also fuel more extensive fires.
A lack of water in some regions of the country also makes it difficult for firefighters to fight a wildland fire. A wildland firefighter must truck in water from other areas to fight the brush fire. Firefighters use special equipment to make sure they extinguish the fire.
Electrical Power
Falling power lines cause sparks, thus causing a wildfire. It’s difficult to predict when and where a power line will fall. Several things can cause power lines to fall, including something striking a power line (like a car accident) or a storm.
In some cases, the government will cut the power to an area if they fear a falling power line could cause a brush fire. A fallen power line could cause a smaller fire to spread. In the past, governments sued power companies for failing to upkeep power lines that cause wildfires.
Causes of a Wildland Fire
A wildland fire can cause a lot of damage. While the most significant causes are humans, the environment and electrical power are also big triggers. When a fire breaks out, wildland firefighters help put out the blaze.
Know the causes of a wildland fire, so you’re not a contributor. Be aware of how much damage they cause to both property and the environment!
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