Bushfires
Not every fire in the forest that occurs is classified as a disaster and especially not a 'natural' disaster. But every fire that is not under control and destroys a substantial amount of the natural environment or the people in it, that occurs due to natural causes, is. A bushfire can occur anywhere in the world providing there is wood, dry leaves or forest that can burn. Bushfires can be started by three main things; due to lightening striking dry forest or bush, through extensive amounts of heat due to the weather, or on purpose by humans,in which there are many ways. However, burning back plants isn't always a bad thing providing it is done by professionals who know what they are doing rather burning for the 'fun' of it. Every now and again firefighters burn small controlled fire prone areas at a low intensity in order to burn back undergrowth that could possibly cause more catastrophic fires.
As many would know natural bush fires most commonly start in hotter months. This is due to temperatures being higher, winds being dry and hot, and also there is not a lot of moisture in the air (low humidity). As well as these reasons fires cannot burn without some sort of fuel.In bushfires this is dry leaves, twigs, bark and long tall grasses which are all found during hotter seasons.
The most obvious result of fire is the loss of plant and animal life. When an area is burned out, vegetation is usually almost all destroyed as it was used by the fire as fuel. In addition, animals are killed in bushfires by high temperatures and suffocation. However, over time, some animals have developed defence mechanisms to save themselves from fires. Mobile animals, such as birds, kangaroos or wallabies, are able to flee flame-stricken areas providing they have enough warning. Echidnas and wombats may escape fire by seeking shelter in burrows or logs. Reptiles and amphibians also try to refuge underground as the fire passes above. Animals that live in trees scamper up to the crowns of trees to try and escape fire, however even with these preventions in place many animals are still aren't fortunate enough to escape the disasters of bush fires.
But not all outcomes of bushfires are bad.Bushfires help many plants to germinate by cracking the seed pods in which seeds are cased in; for example fire is essential in the life of many eucalyptus species as they require heat from a fire to crack their seeds and encourage growth. Bush fires also encourages growth in other plants as fire clears undergrowth leaving space for new plants to grow.
As many would know natural bush fires most commonly start in hotter months. This is due to temperatures being higher, winds being dry and hot, and also there is not a lot of moisture in the air (low humidity). As well as these reasons fires cannot burn without some sort of fuel.In bushfires this is dry leaves, twigs, bark and long tall grasses which are all found during hotter seasons.
The most obvious result of fire is the loss of plant and animal life. When an area is burned out, vegetation is usually almost all destroyed as it was used by the fire as fuel. In addition, animals are killed in bushfires by high temperatures and suffocation. However, over time, some animals have developed defence mechanisms to save themselves from fires. Mobile animals, such as birds, kangaroos or wallabies, are able to flee flame-stricken areas providing they have enough warning. Echidnas and wombats may escape fire by seeking shelter in burrows or logs. Reptiles and amphibians also try to refuge underground as the fire passes above. Animals that live in trees scamper up to the crowns of trees to try and escape fire, however even with these preventions in place many animals are still aren't fortunate enough to escape the disasters of bush fires.
But not all outcomes of bushfires are bad.Bushfires help many plants to germinate by cracking the seed pods in which seeds are cased in; for example fire is essential in the life of many eucalyptus species as they require heat from a fire to crack their seeds and encourage growth. Bush fires also encourages growth in other plants as fire clears undergrowth leaving space for new plants to grow.
Facts
-South-eastern Australia includes areas which are prone to the most severe and frequent wildfires in the world.
-Most firefighter deaths occur after a change in wind direction.
-The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria are Australia's most damaging bushfires with 173 people dying and total estimated costs of $1 billion.
-A fire must have fuel to burn. If there is no fuel, then there is no fire.
-Fire needs oxygen in the air to burn.
-The main way a fire travels is through the wind.
-The heat from a bushfire is called radiant heat
-Most firefighter deaths occur after a change in wind direction.
-The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria are Australia's most damaging bushfires with 173 people dying and total estimated costs of $1 billion.
-A fire must have fuel to burn. If there is no fuel, then there is no fire.
-Fire needs oxygen in the air to burn.
-The main way a fire travels is through the wind.
-The heat from a bushfire is called radiant heat