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A month ago, the world saw one of the most largest, terrifying and devastating wildfires in recent history. On July 6 at around 3:45 pm, lightning sparked a fire near Milford, Utah which sent firefighters scrambling to control the blaze for more than five days.

Wildfires which are also known as wildland fires, forest fires, vegetation fires, grass fires, peat fires, hill fires, and bushfires in Australia refers to uncontrolled fires that happen in the wild. The problem with wildfires it that they can grow into massive fires in such a short time consuming not only forests, trees, or grass but as well as any residential houses or agricultural produce that are near the area.

Fires like these in the wild can be caused by lightning or, unfortunately, through human carelessness. The risk of wildfires is increased when areas experience heat waves, droughts, and climate changes. Strong winds also contribute to the spread of wildfires.

Wildfires are considered part of the natural process. Plants have extra roots and fire resistant seedlings that help them survive and repopulate the forests after such fires. By burning away dead wood and other debris on the forest floor, these fires help clear the forest floor signaling a fresh start on he ecosystem and various forest habitats. Without these fires, a number of plants will fail to grow or tree species will not be able to regenerate because they are being smothered by the undergrowth. Wild fires are ways of nature for renewal.

It is only unfortunate that due to high urbanization, men have encroached on forest grounds which makes them at risk from wild fires. And this has been the case in a many occasions. Wildfires caused large-scale forest damages as well as damages to private or public properties. In many instances, there have been casualties.

Wildfires spread through three ways. First the fire crawl through the forest floor, burning low level vegetations, dead branches and dry debris. Second, the crown of the fire spreads the fire through the top of the forests. And third, wind carries burning leaves, branches through other areas starting distant fires.

The wildfire that occurred in Milford, Utah burned 363,052 acres or 567 square miles of forested and range land. The fires caused the evacuation of at least one town, the town of Cove Fort. The same fires also caused a couple of vehicular accidents some of which ended with some fatalities. More than 400 firefighters were brought in to control the fires. Almost five days later, they announced that the wildfires were 100% contained.

Although the Utah fire was big, this can never be compared to the great Miramichi Fire that burned the landscap of northern New Brunswick in Canada on October 1825. The fires or series of fires destroyed about one third of the homes in Fredericton and damaged considerable other towns like the village of Newcastle and Douglastown. The Miramichi Fire consumed more than 3,000,000 acres or 12,000 km² of land and killed 160 people.

 

© Sciencetips 2008