You may have noticed a surge in forest
fires in Canada this summer especially in British Columbia and in Northern
Saskatchewan. There is a lot of myth and misinformation surrounding the causes
and dangers of forest fires. While forest fires are an important revitalization
life-process for most forest ecosystems, it can be devastating for the people who
have built homes and lives in and around these wooded areas. Understanding why
forest fires occur, what they do to our environment, and how this affects our
ecosystem for years to come, is vital for recognizing and addressing issues
such as climate change and fire safety.
Causes of Forest Fires
There are two causes for forest fires: 1)
natural elements such as lightening and 2) human-caused ignition such as
campfires.
Naturally Occurring Forest Fires
Natural fires are typically caused by a
combination of factors that contribute to a highly flammable environment. Dry,
hot weather, in a wooded area is the perfect breeding ground for flames.
These fires are usually ignited by lightening with a very small
percentage of fires started by spontaneous combustion.
Human-Caused
Fires
Forest fires caused by humans can occur in
a myriad of ways such as improperly controlled or constructed campfires,
sparks from car engines and motor powered equipment and smoking. Although
human-caused fires actually make up the majority of the forest fires we see today, it
is actually the naturally occurring fires that cause the most damage. Human-made fires are
often noticed right away and therefore are much easier to put out. Naturally made
fires, on the other hand, often go undetected, which allows the fire to spread and burn faster and longer. These fires can be extremely difficult to extinguish.
Forest Fires are Good?
Forest fires are a double-edged
sword as they are contradictory in nature. Fire destroys life, yet this
destruction is actually vital for the rejuvenation and birth of new life. In
fact, many plant and tree species need fire in order for their seeds to open.
Why there are so many forest fires recently:
Naturally occurring forest fires are important for the continuation of the ecosystem life-cycle process. It is, however, the intervention of humans that have lead to wider spread fires in recent years. The reason for this is kindling. When natural
forest fires do occur, they are not only important for the propagation of new
life and plant species, but are also integral in controlling future fires. Think
of it: a fire will actually prevent future fires from spreading too much as it cycles through dry wood every so often. No access kindling, means no fuel for the fire.
Climate Change:
The increase in hot and dry temperatures
has contributed to the growing numbers of forest fires year after year in
Canada.These conditions provide the fuel for a
wildfire. This, combined with more lightening without rain all contribute to the growth of wildfires especially in Western Canada.
Even though forest fires are an important
part of the lifecycle process, it can be quite devastating for people
who live in and around a fire zone.
Right now in Canada alone, there are 273 forest fires
burning, 117 of them are currently uncontrolled. In northern Saskatchewan
alone, approximately 14 000 people were evacuated from their homes and over 600
firefighters are now on site to help control the situation. This is the ugly reality
of forest fires: they can happen anywhere and at any time, putting many peoples’
homes and lives at risk.
Insurance coverage during a fire evacuation:
If you are forced to evacuate your
home due to safety reasons, your insurance company will cover you for
additional living expenses such as rent/hotel costs, transportation fees,
food, and any other costs associated with the evacuation.
The best thing to do is to call your
insurance company as soon as you have been evacuated to a safe location to ask them
for your coverage options.
Forest Fire Awareness and Prevention:
You can do a lot to reduce the risk of
forest fires by following a few simple safety checks:
Campfires: Do you know how to build a
proper and safe campfire? There are a lot of great resources on fire safety
while camping. Below is the link to the Alberta Parks’ campfire safety guide:
Pay attention to fire bans in your area: Whenever
it is dry and hot, it usually means there is a high level of wildfire risks.
Always check to see if there is a fire ban before camping or even burning a
fire pit in your backyard. After all, one rogue amber can be carried by the wind and
be the source of ignition for a nearby wooded area.
For fire bans in your area:
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