SUMMARY
With wildfires on the rise around the world, learn how you can prevent them, protect yourselves from them, and help out the victims.
REPORT
Wildfires are uncontrolled or unwanted fires that pose a threat to both flora and fauna and also to the nearby population. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire can also be classified more specifically as a brush fire, bushfire (in Australia), desert fire, forest fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire.
Here are some increasing cases of wildlife in 2020:
Europe
2020 Chernobyl Exclusion Zone wildfires, Ukraine
North America
2020 Arizona wildfires, United States
2020 California wildfires, United States
2020 Nevada wildfires, United States
2020 New Mexico wildfires, United States
2020 Utah wildfires, United States
2020 Washington wildfires, United States
2020 Oregon wildfires, United States
South America
2020 Delta del Paraná wildfires, Argentina
Oceania
2019–20 Australian bushfire season
Reasons for increasing wildfires around the world:
Only 10 to 15 percent of wildfires occur on their own in nature. The other 85 to 90 percent are a result of anthropogenic causes.
Climate change has been found to be the main factor in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires. Research shows that changes in climate that create warmer, drier conditions, increased drought, and a longer fire season are boosting these increases in wildfire risk.
Land use and forest management do affect wildfire risk. Greenhouse gas emissions, through the greenhouse effect, are causing the global temperature to increase and the climate to change. This enhances the likelihood of wildfires.
California Wildfires
Many scientists see California fires as a sign of climate change. 130 F(54.4 C) temperature is recorded in Death Valley National Park, California, in Mid August 2020. It is the highest temperature ever recorded on earth. 12,000 dry lightning strikes over a 72 hour period led to approx 600 wildfires in California. Over 1.2 million acres of land burned, 14,000+ firefighters are working to get the fire under control and 119,000+ people forced to evacuate.
Wildlife control measures:
How should you protect yourself and others from this catastrophe?
- Report unattended fires
- Extinguish fire pits and campfires when done
- Don’t throw lit cigarettes out of your moving car
- Use caution when using flammable liquids
- Pay attention to local ordinances for trash burning
- Only use fireworks in clear areas with no woods nearby
- Pay attention to the risk of forest fires in your area.
How can you help?
Various organizations are helping displaced residents. These are:
- United Way of Northern California
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy
- The Red Cross
- California Fire Foundation’s
To support these organizations click here