Wildfires
Find out how wildfires are caused, where they are most likely to occur and ways you can prevent yourself from starting a wildfire.
How are they caused?
Wildfires typically start due to the constant extreme temperatures caused by the heat of the sun. Drought can also be apart of this as dry conditions can trigger a knock-on affect.
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A different way that a wildfire can take place is through storm-like conditions where lightning can strike a tree and ignite a fire.
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The fire can spread from tree to tree igniting the grass and branches which also affects the local wildlife in the area. Animals who reside close to the trees have to act quickly to find another habitat or risk losing their lives.
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And lastly, man-made fires are also pretty common. For example, people who go camping and want to light a campfire can end up burning an area of the forest/park down.
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Where can they occur?
Wildfires can occur anywhere outdoors. The level of the fire can depend on the amount of trees in the area.
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Wildfires usually occur where there is an abundance of trees building up next to each other, so pretty much anywhere in the world.
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Another factor is countries where there is high temperatures which means countries near the equator.
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To be more specific, countries like Spain, Portugal, California, Australia and Greece among many others.
How do I prevent a wildfire?
The first solution is to stop littering. Many wildfires start because someone or a group of people leave behind their rubbish after a few days of camping, this is one of the most common ways that a wildfire is started. Because of the irresponsibility of people, many of the animals must suffer the consequences, therefore we have to be more careful about where we drop our litter. The best thing to do is to hold on to the waste until a bin is in sight and drop it inside there.
Another solution is to put a stop to fireworks. If the fireworks get used in the wrong way, they could be the cause of a wildfire. A person could see it as a fun way to celebrate, but when these explosives set off near a tree or plant, it could have massive consequences for the plants and animals around the trees, not to mention the people that live in the area. The best thing for people to do is to ban the use of fireworks because of the damage they could cause.
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People can also keep up with the local weather forecast on the day they want to travel, especially in the summer, when the temperatures rise rapidly. This is to make sure they don’t run into any problems or burn any materials or substances they are not supposed to.