The Impacts of a Wildfire Crisis

(Chu, 2020)

World Health Organization Report

Dasha Rizvanova
Contents

Abstract 2

The Dangers and Impacts of a Wildfire Crisis 2

How Wildfires Start and Spread 2

How Wildfires Impact Humans 3

How Wildfires Damage Wildlife 4

How to Prevent the Wildfire to Protect Humans and Wildlife 5

Government Actions to Prevent Frequent Wildfires 5

How to Prevent a Wildfire and Prevent Yourself from One 5

Efforts from the Government and Citizens Can Stop the Wildfire Crisis 6

Implementing Safe Practices that Protect American Forests 6

Conclusion 6

References 7

Figures

Figure 1 3

Figure 2 4

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Abstract

As the climate changes, people see its adverse effects, including frequent wildfires. According to
the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, climate change has doubled the number of large
fires between 1984 and 2015 in the United States ("Wildfires and Climate Change", n.d.).
Multiple projections show an annual 1°C temperature increase would result in a 600% increase
in the amount of burned area in the South East area of the state ("Wildfires and Climate Change,"
n.d.). While many factors contribute to wildfires, such as temperature, presence of trees, and
moisture, there is no doubt that people majorly contribute to their frequency as around 80% of
the wildfires in the U.S. are a result of humans' activity ("Wildfires and Climate Change," n.d.).

Artificial changes to the climate are causing drought, stronger winds, warmer temperatures, and
dry lighting that contribute to prolonged fire seasons. According to Johannes Kieft, who leads
United Nations Environment Programme in Indonesia, these severe wildfires are linked to the
increased use of ecosystems for agriculture ("As Climate Changes," 2022).

The Dangers and Impacts of a Wildfire Crisis

How Wildfires Start and Spread

Wildfires are uncontrolled and destructive forces that can damage acres of land, properties,
people's health, and wild animals' natural habitat. While it is valuable to note that wildfires are
detrimental to one's well-being, it is also essential to spot some of the causes that contribute to
the spread of wildfires. Both humans and nature can start wildfires; however, the latter
contributes to an insignificant amount of wildfires annually("How Wildfires Start and Spread,"
2022).84% of the 1.5 million wildfires from 1992 to 2012 were human-caused in the United
States, and only 16% were caused by a lightning strike(Coffey, 2017). Moreover, the average fire
season has increased from 46 to 154 days over the last 21 years, resulting in over $2 billion in
cost fights annually (Daley, 2017). Figure 1 represents how burned area increased throughout the
years in the USA.

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Figure 1. Wildfire Extent in the United States, 1983–2020 ("Climate Change Indicators:
Wildfires", n.d.)

The first cause of the wildfires is powerlines. Strong winds and car crashes can strike down the
electrical lines, which results in a spark vital enough to spread the fire across the large
territory("How Wildfires Start and Spread," 2022). Another cause is cigarette butts, and
California suffered so many wildfires that it decided to pass the law prohibiting smoking and
vaping in local parks. Another reason for a wildfire can be an improperly extinguished campfire
that can turn into a horrific wildfire("How Wildfires Start and Spread," 2022). Last but not least,
climate change strongly impacts the start and spread of wildfires.

According to researchers, extreme heat waves that contributed to wildfires in Pacific Northwest
in 2021 would not occur without planetary warming caused by greenhouse-gas emissions(Zhong,
2022). Moreover, the frequency of wildfires can only increase because emissions rise due to the
higher amount of carbon dioxide that helps plants grow and consequently create more vegetation
that fuels blazes(Zhong, 2022).

How Wildfires Impact Humans

Wildfires emit many dangerous to one's health pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen
dioxide, and a fine particulate matter of fewer than 2.5 microns "Implications of the California
Wildfires", 2020). The main concern with these fine particles is that they make up most of the
plume of smoke from the wildfire. It can cause biological damage by getting deep into the lungs
("Implications of the California Wildfires", 2020). Particle pollution triggers asthma, heart
attacks, and strokes which can detriment one's life quality. Moreover, these particles can damage
the cardiovascular system by triggering the autonomic nervous system("Implications of the
California Wildfires", 2020). Multiple studies show a strong correlation between wildfire smoke
exposure and respiratory health issues, including bronchitis and pneumonia ("Implications of the
California Wildfires", 2020). Wildfires can also negatively impact newborns; a study found that
a large population of mothers exposed to the wildfire smoke in Southern California in 2003 gave
birth to underweight babies with long-term health effects("Implications of the California

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Wildfires", 2020). Figure 2 represents how increasing smoke concentrations negatively impacts
humans.

Figure 2. How Increasing Smoke Concentration and Increasing Susceptibility Can Affect
General Public Health (Reid, 2017).

Wildfires also negatively impact the food supply for those affected areas. Wildfires also affect
those who do not live in affected areas. They cause supply shortages. Smoke pollution affects
produce from a mile away, reducing productivity (Ranniger, 2021).

How Wildfires Damage Wildlife

Wildfires can damage and destroy the natural habitat of wild animals. While many animals die in
the fire, those who survive cannot return to the old habitat as food sources are destroyed. Loss of
habitat can drastically alter many lives since wild animals return to the same ground to breed
annually; hence, it can take many years for animals to recover after missing a breeding season
and reestablishing a new home ("How Wildfires", 2021). Moreover, smoke from a fire can
physically damage an animal. It can irritate their eyes, cause difficulty breathing, and cause
extreme burns that may lead to death. Marine mammals and fish also suffer the consequences of
massive wildfires. When burning plastic and other artificial materials, the leftover residue
produces toxins that contaminate water ("How Wildfires", 2021). Burnt plants disintegrate into
phosphorus and nitrogen that rain later sweeps into the aquatic environment, resulting in algae
blooms that can lead to the loss of underwater oxygen; hence, dead zones ("How Wildfires",
2021). It is vital to note that to save acres of territory, firefighters use aggressive chemicals that
slow down the spread of the fire; however, these chemicals can negatively affect water quality;
hence, food supply, such as fish. Multiple studies concluded that these lingering effects stay in
the ecosystem for two years or more(Spanne, 2021).

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How to Prevent the Wildfire to Protect Humans and Wildlife

Government Actions to Prevent Frequent Wildfires

There are several actions that the government can take to prevent the destructive wildfires. For
instance, reorganize land-use policies by eliminating policies, such as cleaning forest land with
fire(Kemper, 2020). This practice can prevent wildfires from happening. The government treats
wildfire management as an emergency rather than a part of routine landscape management.
While money must be spent on emergency management, it is essential to invest in measures,
including educating the general public on fire management, restricting fuel loads, and restoring
ecosystems damaged by wildfires(Kemper, 2020).It is also essential to implement and improve
existing fire management techniques, such as early fire detection and monitoring(Kemper, 2020).
Improved fire techniques would help to prevent a massive wildfire that can burn acres of land.
Moreover, do not forget about the research part as a prevention method. Wildfire data research is
needed to understand better what and why causes wildfires. Hence, this positive practice can
highlight gaps in fire prevention and response actions(Kemper, 2020).Finally, it is vital to
involve and strengthen stakeholders' involvement as wildfire management involves various
people, including government, local citizens, the private sector, and other organizations(Kemper,
2020).

How to Prevent a Wildfire and Protect Yourself from One

There are several steps each individual can take to prevent a wildfire from happening. These are
essential safety behavior that can save one’s life. If you notice even a tiny unattended fire, call
911 or your local fire department( "7 Simple Steps", n.d.). This can prevent a wildfire from
happening. Also, be mindful when camping; do not leave a fire unattended even for a short time,
and extinguish it properly by using water or ashes to put out the flames. When leaving your
campsite, ensure you do not leave anything behind that can spark a fire( "7 Simple Steps", n.d.).
Do not use fireworks in the forest or any area that has woods nearby; use them in open spaces
instead. Moreover, do not throw a lit cigarette on the ground. Cigarettes have enough heat to
create a spark that can turn into a fire; when you are done smoking, ensure you fully extinguish
your cigarette. Last but not least, pay attention to your local news regarding the risks of forest
fires in your area. Tracking information regarding fire risks can help you avoid any activities that
can cause a wildfire( "7 Simple Steps", n.d.).

If wildfire happens in your area, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
1) Check your news regarding local air quality reports, safety measures, and fire and smoke
maps; you also want to evacuate from the path of wildfires. Additionally, pay attention to
public health messages about safety measures tips(Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention [CDC], 2022).
2) If you are advised to stay inside, keep indoor air as clean as possible by keeping your
doors and windows closed. If you do not have air conditioning, try to relocate to the
closest shelter (CDC, 2022).
3) Contact your doctor and follow their advice regarding a respiratory management plan,
especially if you have asthma or another lung disease (CDC, 2022).

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Efforts from the Government and Citizens Can Stop the Wildfire Crisis

Implementing Safe Practices that Protect American Forests

Unfortunately, human activity caused significant damage to the wildfires. Fossil fuels, warmer
temperatures, and overall disregard for nature resulted in frequent and intense wildfires
throughout the country. It is time for a significant change, and government can do quite a lot to
better the situation. Political figures need to collaborate with Federal Fire Department Services to
understand this issue better, hence enhancing wildfire prevention services. An effective crisis
strategy shall be implemented that leads to fuel reduction success and fire-adapted human
communities that are well-educated about prevention and protection measures. The latter can be
done by educating communities regarding safe practices. For instance, schools and universities
can implement lessons that inform the general public and students about techniques mentioned in
the paragraphs above. Once an effective crisis strategy is in place, we will move towards a future
that no longer have a wildfire crisis on news headlines.

Conclusion

Wildfires are a powerful and damaging force as they not only destroy land but worsen the lives
of wild animals, and people and damage natural resources. One must care about the issue as
wildfires result from climate change and contribute to one, resulting in a vicious cycle. The
pollutants from the wildfire smoke can be carried thousands of miles away, affecting those who
do not even live in the area affected by the fire. Hence, nobody is safe, especially those who
already suffer from lung illnesses. We must be cautious and educate ourselves on how to avoid
starting a fire.

Most importantly government needs to make some tough calls to better wildfire management so
that one can be avoided at any cost. Moreover, climate change should be taken seriously, and
large corporations should be held accountable for fossil fuel production. Otherwise, our future
generations might not have a bright life ahead of them but rather a polluted one from all the
smoke.

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 References
As Climate Changes, World Grapples With a Wildfire Crisis. (2022, March 9). UN Environment
Programme, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/climate-changes-world-
grapples-wildfire
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 16). Protect Yourself from Wildfire
Smoke. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/wildfires/index.html
Chu, A.(2020). Firefighters monitoring California wildfire[Photograph]. TheRealDeal.
https://therealdeal.com/la/2020/09/02/wildfire-insurance-crisis-looms-for-california-hor/
Climate Change Indicators: Wildfires. (n.d.). The United States Environmental Protection
Agency, https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-wildfires
Coffey, D.(2018, December 18). How Do Wildfires Start? LiveScience,
https://www.livescience.com/64378-how-do-wildfires-start.html
Daley, J.(2017, February 28). Study Shows 84% of Wildfires Caused by Humans. Smithsonian,
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IFAW.(2017, October 7). How Wildfires Impact Wildlife,
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Kemper, K.(2020, June 5). How governments can take action to limit extreme wildfires. World
Bank Group. https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/how-governments-can-take-
action-limit-extreme-wildfires
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Implications of the
California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness: Proceedings of a
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Ranniger, G. (2021, October 8). How Do Wildfires Impact Your Health? Environmental Health
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Reid, C.(2017).How Increasing Smoke Concentration and/or Increasing Susceptibility Can
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7 Simple Steps to Prevent Wildfire.(n.d.).AccuWeather,
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Spanne, A.(2021, September 27). We’re dumping loads of retardant chemicals to fight wildfires.
What does it mean for wildlife? Environmental Health News,
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Wildfires and Climate Change. (n.d.). Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
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Zhong, R.(2022, February 28). Climate Scientists Warn of a ‘Global Wildfire Crisis.The New
York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/climate/climate-change-un-wildfire-
report.html

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