Wildfire

Wildfires are any unplanned or uncontrolled fire affecting natural, cultural, industrial and residential landscapes (adapted from FAO, 2010).

Wildfires are not a major cause of death, but they can be very destructive. Many wildfires are caused by human activities, either accidentally or as a consequence of carelessness, or arson. These fires often get out of control and spread over vast areas extending to tens or hundreds of thousands of hectares.

Research shows that wildfires can cause a large increase in gaseous air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, acetaldehyde and formaldehyde (Finlay et al., 2012). Wood smoke has high levels of particulate matter and toxins, Adverse health consequences can occur as a result of short- or long-term exposure. Respiratory morbidity predominates, but cardiovascular, opthalmic and psychiatric problems can also result (HPI).

Wildfires represent a hazard that is primarily influenced by humans and thus to a degree can be predicted, controlled and, in many cases, prevented. Wildfire occurence, characteristics and impacts are closely linked to other hazards: droughts, heat waves and extreme weather events can influence fire intensity and severity and thus the duration, size and controllability of wildfires. The effects of wildfires on vegetation cover and soil stability may create secondary hazards/subsidiary perils, such as post-fire landslides, mudslides, flash floods, erosion and siltation.

Risk factors

  • Increasing demand for agricultural lands for food and the necessity to use fire for land-use change.
  • The expansion of residential areas/infrastructures built near fire-prone vegetation - the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
  • Extended periods of drought and extreme heat.
  • Wildfires cause more land degradation (soil erosion, loss of land productivity) and as a consequence create more flooding and landslides.

Vulnerable areas

  • Agricultural and pasture lands in which fire is used for controlling weeds, bush encroachments, and for land clearing.
  • Fire-prone natural forest, bush land and grassland ecosystems with high occurrence of natural fires in the subtropics or northern latitudes.
  • Agricultural and forest plantations.
  • Residential areas or scattered houses/infrastructures nearest to fire-prone vegetation.
  • Residential areas or individual structures made of easily flammable materials.
  • Abandoned rural villages and human settlements with no one to manage, prevent or respond to wildfires.

Risk reduction measures

  • Limit development in high bushfire risk areas.
  • Clear the vegetation surrounding homes and other structures.
  • Build fire lanes or breaks between homes and any forested or bush land areas, if a natural firebreak does not exist.
  • Plant vegetation of low flammability.
  • Use fire-resistant building materials.
  • Use traditional and advanced methods of prescribed burning for sustainable agriculture and flora and fauna management.
  • Enact legislation and regulation at the appropriate jurisdictional levels.
  • Conduct community-based fire risk minimization activities during all stages of fire management.
  • Provide community alerts through fire danger rating systems.
  • Educate the community and raise public awareness about the risks of wildfires.
  • Develop firefighting capacities and public safety.

Latest Wildfire additions in the Knowledge Base

This year’s report presents new findings for displacement during 2012 and analysis drawn from five years of data compiled by IDMC. It presents global estimates for disaster-induced displacement associated with hazards that rapidly impact communities or

Panelists in the open debate
On the opening day of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mayors and local government representatives took part in an open debate on ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Measures at the local level in South Eastern Europe”. Floods, droughts and forest fires – all of which are cross-border hazards – are the main risks in South Eastern Europe, and projections indicate that climate change and variations could lead to more frequent and severe disasters related to weather, water and climate in the region.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia
Professor Shinichi Takemura demonstrating the Tangible Earth
The inventor of the world's first interactive digital globe that graphically depicts the vulnerability of our planet to disasters today challenged global policymakers to show more leadership in tackling the growing risks facing populations worldwide.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
by Hanoi Mark CC BY-NC 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/riverdaleto/108950943
'The level of displacement risk will be greatly influenced by how well countries and communities are able to strengthen disaster prevention, preparedness and response and adapt to new realities,' a new report warns. Follow the discussion on the issue at the Global Platform for disaster risk reduction...
Thomson Reuters Foundation, trust.org
'We're going to have to figure out some more effective and efficient ways for adapting rather than just pouring more and more resources and money at it,' Forest Service Climate Change Advisor Dave Cleaves said. 'We're going to have to have a lot more partnerships with states and communities to look at fires and forest health problems'...
Allvoices
'Adaptation is about new ways of thinking and dealing with risks and hazards, uncertainty and complexity. It will require Europeans to cooperate, to learn from each other and to invest in the long-term transformations needed to sustain our well-being in the face of climate change,' Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said...
European Environment Agency
Outer space isn't a place organizations usually think of when looking to build resilience and reduce disaster risks. Yet, this is exactly where participants' minds were when experts were invited by UNISDR and the UN's Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to discuss the incorporation of space technology into the post-2015 disaster risk reduction framework.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Australia bush fire photo by flickr user fvanrenterghem, http://www.flickr.com/photos/fvanrenterghem/2642318538/ (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Australian Council of Social Services has commissioned research finding small and medium-sized organisations are at risk of permanent closure as a result of major damage to physical infrastructure caused by events like heatwaves, drought, bushfires and floods, reports AAP in the Australian. To date the community sector has been overlooked in the climate change adaptation policy settings," says the report, which is titled Extreme Weather, Climate Change and the Community Sector...
Australian, the

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