In this post I will be teaching you about wild fires, how they start, how they affect humans and animals, how they are dealt with and what’s good and bad about them.

How are wildfires caused?

Wildfires can be caused by surrounding environment, weather, even human actions and forgetfulness. Wild fires usually start from a long period of drought and intense heat, this is most common in places like Australia Canada and Greece. Other causes for wild fires include: lightning, campers that don’t put out their fires properly and low amounts of rain.

How they affect Humans and Animals

Wild fires can effect both physically and mentally; inhaling the smoke can cause lung Cancer and breathing problems and direct exposure to flames or radiant heat can cause burns, injuries, and heat-related illnesses (e.g., dehydration, heat stroke), possibly resulting in death.

Not only Humans but Wild fires are highly dangerous for animals. For animals trapped in the path of a wildfire, the impacts can be life-threatening (or debilitating). Thick smoke from fires can disorient animals, irritate their eyes, and cause difficulty breathing. Loss of habitat can be catastrophic for some animals which can make a difference on whether an animal is endangered, threatened or even extinct rather than the species thriving happily like they would in a danger-free habitat. Koalas and many other animals are highly hurt by wild fires and habitat loss.

How they are dealt with

If you are in an area where a wild fire is taking place, helicopters will arrive to drop buckets of water on the area of the fire to try and put out the flames and the fire brigade will be on land. People in the area or nearby will be evacuated to a safe area.

Can Wild fires have a positive impact?

Wildfires clear areas of old vegetation and encourage the decomposition of plants, leaving behind space and important nutrients for new plants to feed on, and it brings people together in a time of need.

On a more negative note, Wild fires can also demolish towns and important buildings. They destroy habitats for many animals and there negative impact outshines the positive.

Thank you for reading.