The flames that have recently engulfed a large portion of the forests in the West and Southwest may seem 'harmless' to those living far away, but such strong wildfires have a broader impact on our environment and economy than we may think.
Wildfires, which can occur from natural causes (less than 3 percent of wildland fires) or human carelessness and accidents, spread very quickly and clear 4 million to 5 million acres (1.6 million to 2 million hectares) of land in the U.S. every year. Even though there are many positives to forest fires, such as cleaning up a forest of dead and decaying matter (natural fuel during drought periods), maintaining ecosystem balance by removing diseased plants and harmful insects and regeneration of seeds through increased sunlight, there are also many negatives – especially true with man-made fires that do not occur naturally.
Aside from deforestation and the increased release of carbon dioxide into the air (negative ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen expenditure), wildfires can also affect the habitat of the environment (depending on the soil and the fire’s intensity), the species population and distribution after the incident, and cause damage to some homes and buildings, as well as costly evacuations and even some human deaths.
These fires also create heavy smog that is harmful to human and animal life, and they use up a lot of natural resources, including water, which could lead to periods of needed water preservation in the area. At the same time, the damage caused by a forest fire can prevent the natural process in which soil and leafage normally absorb rainfall. The disruption and imbalance of the water distribution and flow can also cause floods in areas where normally this would not occur.
Although naturally occurring fires cannot be prevented, if you live in an area where there is high risk of forest fires (especially with high summer temperatures), take extra caution in ensuring that man-made fires don't occur. Unfortunately, their negative effects often overshadow the positive impacts
The flames that have recently engulfed a large portion of the forests in the West and Southwest may seem 'harmless' to those living far away, but such strong wildfires have a broader impact on our environment and economy than we may think. Wildfires, which can occur from natural causes (less than 3 percent of wildland fires) or human carelessness and accidents, spread very quickly and clear 4 million to 5 million acres (1.6 million to 2 million hectares) of land in the U.S. every year. Even though there are many positives to forest fires, such as cleaning up a forest of dead and decaying matter (natural fuel during drought periods), maintaining ecosystem balance by removing diseased plants and harmful insects and regeneration of seeds through increased sunlight, there are also many negatives – especially true with man-made fires that do not occur naturally. Aside from deforestation and the increased release of carbon dioxide into the air (negative ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen expenditure), wildfires can also affect the habitat of the environment (depending on the soil and the fire’s intensity), the species population and distribution after the incident, and cause damage to some homes and buildings, as well as costly evacuations and even some human deaths. These fires also create heavy smog that is harmful to human and animal life, and they use up a lot of natural resources, including water, which could lead to periods of needed water preservation in the area. At the same time, the damage caused by a forest fire can prevent the natural process in which soil and leafage normally absorb rainfall. The disruption and imbalance of the water distribution and flow can also cause floods in areas where normally this would not occur. Although naturally occurring fires cannot be prevented, if you live in an area where there is high risk of forest fires (especially with high summer temperatures), take extra caution in ensuring that man-made fires don't occur. Unfortunately, their negative effects often overshadow the positive impacts
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