Introduction
Wildfire is one of the worst natural disasters to hit any part of the world. Wildfire is an uncontrolled fire which occurs in forests and the areas where there are more number of trees and plants. These fires sometimes burns for days and weeks and can destroy the forest and each organic material in it. The combustion of even a simple plant or brush can burn the acres of acres in a thick forest. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and particles produced by burning of plants which is dangerous for human health if inhaled. This also leads to the extinguishing of many wildlife species. It is referred as forest fire, bush fire, brush fire etc. However, they are dangerous and also unpredictable.
Causes
Humans and Wildfire:
Humans are the main factor for causing wildfire. Nearly 85% of wildfire initiated by the humans. Humans cause wildfires due to following actions:
- Left campfires unattended
- Negligence in discarding cigarettes
- The burning of debris
- Setting fireworks near the trees.
Nature and Wildfire:
Following natural phenomenal considered as reasons of wildfire:
- Lightning storm
- Global warming
- Climate change
- Volcano eruption
Reflection can also be another source of wildfire. Broken glasses act as lens focusing sunlight on a small spot for a length of time, can also trigger the fire.
Fighting Forest Fires:
While developing strategies for fighting forest fires, some questions taken into consideration like what is burning? What is the rate of winds? Which things are acting as fuel for this fire. Following steps taken in this regard.
- The first step in this scenario is detection of wildfire and sending alarms to the firefighting agencies. Early detection is paramount to controlling damage and minimizing overall cost of loss.
- Firefighters usually focus on establishing fire lines. A fire line is a break in fuels created by removing all vegetation up to an existing barrier. Fire lines are started from the coldest part of the fire. The anchor point ensures a safe barrier between the fire and any unburned vegetation that could ignite and trap firefighters.
- A burnout is one of several ways to bolster a control line and further prevent a blaze from escaping the established boundaries. Firefighters burn small bushes inside the control line to create a fuel free barrier.
- Hot spotting is a term used for finding the area where more attention is needed. Firefighting crew devise such strategies which keep these areas more in check.
- In Knock down process, the hot spot are demolished.
- Once a fire is securely contained in fire line, crew mop-up the control line. Mop up is when fire extinguisher remove burning material near the fire lines.
Digital Technologies to Help Fight Wildfire
Technology can play an important role in detecting and fighting wildfires. Engineers are trying to create such system which can predicts wildfires for some years now. Following technologies used for this purpose:
Wildfire Monitoring and Detection System Using Wireless Sensor Network:
This system consists of sensors and a messaging server. This system use different type of sensors to sense smoke, its density, humidity, and temperature. After detecting the fire, a warning message is send to the authorities and firefighting agencies. The message will also be send to the nearby living public.
Satellites:
Satellites used to pinpoint the areas with dangerous fire and also give report about the progress of fire.
Drones:
Drones also help the firefighting crew by finding hot-spot. Drone can fly in the areas and gives update about the situation.
Robots:
Robots are proving helpful in firefighting also. If the temperature of effected area increase and no human is capable of going near it to extinguish fire, here comes robots for help. Thermite, developed by Howe and Howe Technologies in Maine, is a firefighting robot that can battle wildfires even in the most extreme conditions.
Deadliest Events in the History
Peshtigo fire is deadliest fire is U.S history. It happened it 1871 and burned 1.2 million acres. 1200 peoples reported death during this accident.
- In October of 1918, 450 people were died in Minnesota’s Claque Fire. Damage of $73 million was caused and 250,000 acres of land was burned in this accident.
- The Great Fire of 1910 burned through 3 million acres in northern Idaho and western Montana. This wildfire killed 87 people.
- In 2013, 8400 acres was burned and 19 members of Prescott Fire Department were killed in Yarn ell Hill Fire.
- In 2003, the Cedar Fire in San Diego burned through 273,246 acres, killing 15 people, including one firefighter.