Wildfires or forest fires have been happening a lot every year and the sad part is we have started to accept it as an annual event. The magnitude is increasing year over year in terms of environmental and financial destruction. One estimate says the magnitude of loss is close to US$50B per year.
On the one hand, lots of steps are taken to save the environment and each country has set aside huge budgets for protecting the environment. On the other, this disaster happens or let’s say escalates every year to new heights.
Diagonostic and Investigation: Looks like we need to spend some time and resources on the diagnostic side. Critical analysis of the root causes and then take preventive actions to eradicate the root causes.
Statistics: Here is the worldwide data analysis of wildfires caused by human activities.
Europe : 95%
Australia : 85%
USA : 85% (Overall continent data not found)
Canada: 40% (Overall continent data not found)
Argentina : 95% (Overall Continent data not found)
It will not be an exaggeration to say that the majority of wildfires are due to human error and activities in rest of the world as well. Of course, global warming and higher temperature, lightenings are also responsible for such fires. There are positive steps being taken to that effect.
Focus of this blog is to control the factor causing majority of the fires and this way the damage can be minimized to a great extent. And, that factor is wildfires caused by human errors and activities.
Human Factor- Errors and activities:
Wildfires or forestfires due to human errors or activities is caused in different ways. On research, these are the common reasons and for each reason I have provided some ideas to control such incidents and prevent fires. Here are my thoughts:
Camping related activities: As humans we are priviledged to enjoy all the activities which give us happiness and enjoyment. And, we should live life to the fullest extent. At the same time, we should also feel responsible to have this happiness and enjoyment pass on to future generations for all times to come.
Forests are the natural resources available to all creatures on the planet. The preservation or betterment of these resources is everyone’s responsibility.
It is unfortunate to see the incidents of wildfires caused by unattended camp fires in the woods. It means people who did camping in the area did not extinguish or put out the fire completely before leaving the camp site. Another activity during camping is BBQ. This is also responsible to cause fire in some instances.
Prevention
Here is an idea
Bear Attacks: Every year lots of incidents happen across the globe of attack of wild animals on campers in the woods. It is understandable to go for camping to live in nature away from urban chaos. But at the cost of human lives is too much.
In general, I would say- we don’t like wild animals in our residential areas and in the same way humans should not try to camp in the jungle. Give animals some space as well.
Rather camping should be encouraged near the water – ocean, river and lakes.
Negligently Discarded Cigarettes: It is very sad to see that discarded lighted cigarette butts cause wildfires.
Prevention
Having said that, there will still be instances of errors and omissions causing wildfires. Another suggestion, may sound irrational, is promoting e-cigarette in comparison to traditional smokes. There are pros and cons of using e-cigarettes. There have been rare minor fire incidents.
Equipment Failures and malfunctioning: Another area of concern is failure of transmission lines and transformers and causing wildfires.
Prevention
Consequences of Wildfires and Forestfires: Apart from direct loss of wildfires to property and human life, there are more adverse effect as given hereunder:
– Wildfires effect the lumber supply resulting in higher construction cost;
– Higher insurance premium for the properties close to wildfire effected zone
Logical analysis:
All the natural resources are collectively owned by the citizens of the country and Government is there as custodian of these resources.
Technically, if loss is caused by human errors, we are burning our own resources.
Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to take utmost care and dilligence to safeguard these resources and do activities in such a manner not to cause harm to any resources.
Pilot Program: If we want to minimize the damage of wildfires due to human error and activities, here is the plan.
As of beginning of next year, earmark the whole state of a country prone to wildfires and ban all the human activities in the area causing fires. This earmarked area for the whole year or during the wildfire season will be cardoned off. Then only we could compare the two areas – cardoned off and rest of the area. Definitely, there will be difference in the number of wildfires between the two types of areas.
The point I am getting at is the outcome of the pilot program will teach us how much as human beings we should be careful and dilligent. That’s the purpose of this blog.
Steps for Wildfire Effected Areas: Areas which are already effected by wildfires will be planted trees again sometime in future. It should be kept in the plan that the replacement trees are in the category of fire-resistant trees like pine tree.
Regarding re-construction of properties in the wildfire effected areas, it would be better to have the concrete structure than wood frame structure. Concrete is fire -resistant.
We always have a choice! There is a solution to every problem- willingness and determination is needed.