Overview of a Wildlife disaster
Disaster can be termed as a misfortune, which could be sudden and substantial or if put in simple words, something quite unfortunate and has adverse effects on its surroundings. There are many examples of wildlife disasters. Such as avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, tsunamis, droughts, hailstorms, heat waves, tornadoes, and wildfires.
Today, let us throw some light on the wildfire for kids in this article. A wildfire is a fire that spreads in an area of vegetation in and around a rural area or countryside. It transpires particularly in forests, grasslands, and deserts. We will also discuss some wildfire facts for kids in the following article.
Wildfire Disaster
What is a Wildlife Disaster?
A Wildfire Disaster is an unintentional fire that spreads in no time in natural areas like forests. It normally spreads in vegetation areas and can cause extreme damage to human life and property but has aftereffects on animals, vegetation, and ecosystems as well.
Wildfires are not only caused by natural occurrences but can also happen due to human activities as well. Because of this natural fuels are all eaten up in no time.
As per the U.S. Fire service, around 700 wildfires occur every year, which burn down roughly 7 million acres of land. The wildfires are so severe that they can burn at a temperature that is more than 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and can reach up to 50 meters high. Shockingly, this temperature is twice as hot as Venus.
Causes of Wildlife Disasters
For a fire to start, three elements have to be present: oxygen, fuel, and heat, which is universally known as the fire triangle. This can also be an answer for how do wildfires start? The main causes of Wildfires are as follows:
1. Human Causes
Carelessness is the basic nature of humans, which leads to many disastrous events. While camping, they sometimes forget to put off the fire, or during a bike ride or hike walk in forests they might leave cigarette butts - the effects of which result in wildfires and disasters and animals have to pay the price.
Camping with Wildfire
2. Natural Causes of Wildfires
The wildfires that happen due to completely natural resources comprise 10% of the total wildfires. The two main natural can strike causes are:
Lightning: The researchers believe that most of the time the wildfire is triggered because of lighting. It can produce a spark and can strike trees, rocks and power cables, or anything that comes in the way leading to harsh destruction.
Wildfire because of Lighting
Volcanic Eruption: During a volcanic eruption, the hot magma which is present in the earth’s crust is expelled out, which further flows into the surrounding fields or lands and starts wildfires, again knocking down everything.
Volcanic Eruption
Effects of Wildlife Disasters
1. Forest Degradation
Hundreds and thousands of trees and vegetation are wiped out because of a forest fire. Forest fires across the globe reduce the quality of soil fertility, biodiversity, and ecosystems every year.
2. Air Pollution
All plants depend upon the atmosphere for respiration. We breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Due to fire, plant life comes to an end, the quality of life that we breathe declines, and there is an increase in the greenhouse effect leading to global warming and climate change.
3. Loss of Ecosystem
The most destructive effect of wildfire is the destruction of the habitats of animals and plants. It disrupts the relationship between flora and fauna. Smaller animals, like squirrels, birds, rabbits, snakes, etc., are particularly at high risk of death.
4. Soil Degradation
Due to wildfires, all the nutrients that are present in the soil are destroyed. It also kills the beneficial soils and also leaves the soil bare, and all the nutrients present in the soil are destroyed due to high temperature.
Impact of Wildlife Disasters on Animals
Animals Suffer in Wildfires
Wildlife disasters can have significant consequences not only on human beings but on animals as well. When there is a disaster, animals go through the same dreadful outcome as people, like, injury, illness, stress, starvation, and displacement from their homes.
For animals who are entrapped in the fire, the impacts are life-threatening. A single fire can destroy millions of animals, and think what thousands of wildfires will do to them. The animals also face the aftereffects like burns, respiratory problems, and blindness in some cases.
Like in 2020, there was a bushfire in New South Wales in which approximately 480 million animals were harmed. These were some of the wildfire facts for kids, which are listed above.
Compassion for Animals
Preventive Measures
We must take measures to put a halt to this disastrous disaster. The most effective strategies are as follows:
We should avoid doing any outdoor activities if it is dry or windy.
Make sure to build your campfire in the open and far from flammables and extinguish it by putting out the fire completely before you leave.
We should never throw lit cigarettes out of our cars.
Always be informed about any risks of forest fires in your areas.
Summary
Disasters are severe disruptions to our community. It exceeds its capacity to cope using its resources. Disasters are caused by man-made, natural, or technological threats. And also all the factors that impact the community’s vulnerability.
Wildfires are unwanted, unplanned, and unpredictable fires in the wildlands over which no one has control, and unfortunately, nothing concrete can be done about it. We learned about wildfire for kids in this article. We discussed many things like how do wildfires start, reason for wildfires and so on.
FAQs on Wildfire Disaster
1. What is a wildfire disaster?
A wildfire disaster is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire that spreads rapidly through natural areas like forests, grasslands, or scrublands. These fires are considered disasters because they can cause widespread destruction to the environment, property, and human and animal life. They often burn at extremely high temperatures, sometimes over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, and consume natural fuel like trees, grass, and undergrowth very quickly.
2. What are the main causes of wildfires?
Wildfires can be caused by both natural events and human activities. The main causes include:
- Human Causes: These are the most common, often resulting from carelessness. Examples include unattended campfires, discarded cigarette butts, sparks from equipment, or intentional acts of arson.
- Natural Causes: These account for a smaller percentage of wildfires. The primary natural causes are lightning strikes that ignite dry vegetation and volcanic eruptions, where hot lava flows into forests or fields.
3. What are the major effects of a wildfire disaster?
The effects of a wildfire disaster are devastating and long-lasting. Key impacts include the destruction of habitats for countless animals, leading to injury, death, and displacement. They also destroy vast areas of trees and plants, which harms biodiversity and increases the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, wildfires degrade soil quality by burning away essential nutrients, leading to soil erosion and potential water contamination.
4. Why are large, uncontrolled wildfires considered so dangerous to the environment?
Large, uncontrolled wildfires are dangerous because they disrupt entire ecosystems. They release massive amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, worsening air quality and contributing to climate change. The intense heat destroys the organic matter in soil, making it sterile and unable to support new growth. This loss of vegetation also leads to severe soil erosion, which can pollute nearby rivers and streams with ash and sediment, harming aquatic life.
5. How can individuals help prevent human-caused wildfires?
Individuals can play a crucial role in preventing wildfires by following key safety measures. Always ensure campfires are built in a clear, open area away from flammable materials and are completely extinguished with water before leaving. Never throw lit cigarettes from vehicles. It's also important to avoid activities that can create sparks, like using certain machinery, during dry and windy conditions. Staying informed about local fire risk levels is another essential preventive step.
6. How does a wildfire affect animals beyond the immediate danger of the fire?
Beyond the immediate threat of burns and death, wildfires have severe long-term effects on animals. The destruction of their habitat leads to a loss of food, water, and shelter, causing starvation and increased vulnerability to predators. Animals that survive may suffer from respiratory problems from smoke inhalation or blindness. The altered landscape can also disrupt migration patterns and breeding cycles, impacting the population for years to come.
7. Are all wildfires bad for forests?
This is a common misconception. While large, high-intensity wildfire disasters are overwhelmingly destructive, some ecosystems have adapted to and even depend on smaller, periodic fires for their health. These natural, low-intensity fires can clear out dead undergrowth, return nutrients to the soil, and help the seeds of certain trees (like some pines) to germinate. However, the uncontrolled, large-scale disasters caused by human activity or extreme weather are not beneficial and cause severe, long-lasting damage.
