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Wildfires - Essay

The document discusses the devastating impact of forest fires, which can be natural or primarily human-caused, with 90% attributed to human actions. It highlights the environmental damage, including air and water pollution, loss of habitats, and deforestation, while providing historical context with the example of the Peshtigo fire. The document also offers prevention tips, such as checking weather conditions, ensuring campfires are extinguished, and supporting sustainable practices to protect forests.

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55 views1 page

Wildfires - Essay

The document discusses the devastating impact of forest fires, which can be natural or primarily human-caused, with 90% attributed to human actions. It highlights the environmental damage, including air and water pollution, loss of habitats, and deforestation, while providing historical context with the example of the Peshtigo fire. The document also offers prevention tips, such as checking weather conditions, ensuring campfires are extinguished, and supporting sustainable practices to protect forests.

Uploaded by

mkv
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cigarettes of

Nature
Have you ever seen a jungle burn? Many of you would recall the dramatic scenes from the movie
“Jungle Book”. Well you would be surprised at how many forest fires happened in 2024 alone. Forest fires
may seem aesthetically beautiful but the amount of damage the cause is absolutely devastating.

Forest fires can be natural or human-caused. Natural wild fires tend to happen because of
lightning strikes or volcanic eruptions, sometimes
even because of the friction caused when leaves of
trees rub against each other. Climate change and
droughts can exacerbate the likelihood and severity
of wildfires. However it is estimated that 90% of
fires are human caused. Out of this 30% are
deliberate acts of arson while the rest 70% are
started accidentally or as a direct result of human
carelessness (like campfires left unattended and
discarded cigarettes). Forest fires pollute water
bodies and the air heavily. A massive amount of CO2
is released into the air increasing the already problematic global warming. Precious wood resources gets
depleted,the tribal people lose their homes and the habitats of species living there are destroyed. The
massive deforestation results in high levels of soil erosion. These fires may take weeks to put out. One
example would be the Peshtigo fire, the deadliest wildfire known to man, that took place in USA on
October 1871. It burned 1.2 million acres of land and killed 1200 to 2500 people. Its intensity created fire
tornadoes and weather-like conditions.

If forest fires are so deadly what can you do to prevent them? Start by checking your weather and
drought conditions before you go on any fire related activities
like campfires. Make sure to douse your campfire until it is cold
and keep your vehicles off dry grass. Support sustainable forest
management practices, and do not smoke or burst fireworks in
dry areas. You can also educate communities and visitors about
fire safety and prevention and support research and
development of new technologies to detect and prevent forest
fires. By following these we can ensure that our world’s green
cover is maintained.

- Aarunya Krishna.C
VII Chambal

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