Forest Fire

1. Forest Fire November 9, 2006 Agenda: Wildfire in Current Events, Creative Poster Project, Presenting Posters, Fires and Virginia

2. Follow along with the article, then answer questions 1 and 2 under Current Events

3. What did you say? • Why do you think California is an area that is at high risk for wildfire? Heat, dry, wind • When there is a wildfire, what are the risks to the following groups? • People: destroys homes, businesses, causes death, injury, poor environmental conditions • Animals: destroys habitat, causes death, injury, poor environmental conditions • Environment: poor air quality, pollutes water, scorches soil

4. Explore Assignment • Wildfire and Prescribed Fire • Assignment: Each group has been given a different set of information about a situation in a forest, a poster, and markers. Your goal is to cover the poster with the forest scene that you are given. After drawing the forest scene, each group will present their poster. The three groups with wildfire will present together and the three groups with prescribed fire will present together.

5. Example Title Labels

6. Wildfire Presentation:What is a wildfire? • Fire that burns quickly and uncontrollably in a forest area or area of thick brush. Wildfires usually start from natural ignition sources such as lightning, although many are started intentionally through carelessness with campfires, disregard for weather conditions, burning yard trash or arsonists.volusia.org/storm/terms.htm • A wildfire, also known as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire in wildland often caused by lightning; other common causes are human carelessness and arson. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire

7. Progression of a Wildfire Before During After

8. What is a prescribed fire? • Prescribed fire is a carefully planned and controlled fire conducted to manage fuels and forest health in timber, brush and oak woodland vegetation types. It is conducted only under safety standards that define rigid windows of opportunity where weather conditions are appropriate and firefighting resources are readily available.yubanet.com/pre-fire_terms.shtml • The use of fire under specific environmental conditions to achieve forest management objectives. Used to reduce hazardous fuel levels, control unwanted vegetation, favor desired vegetation, and improve visibility and wildlife habitat.www.cnr.berkeley.edu/departments/espm/extension/GLOSS.HTM

9. Progression of a Prescribed Fire After During Before

10. Wildfire • To start and maintain a fire there must be heat, fuel and oxygen. • With enough fuel, a wildfire becomes very hot and extremely hazardous. • Smoke, or tiny particles of carbon suspended in vapor, decreases air quality. (pollution)

11. Benefits of Prescribed Fire • If the underbrush in a forest builds up too much and a wildfire starts, there will be more fuel for the fire and it will get hotter and cause more damage. Periodic prescribed fires decrease the amount of fuel. • Some plants and animals have adapted to an ecosystem where fires occur frequently. This is called a fire-driven ecosystem. • Heat can stimulate some seeds to germinate and release and recycle nutrients from litter and undergrowth in the soil. • Opens up habitat, which leads to more diversity and abundant food sources.

12. Prescribed Fires continued • The decision to use prescribed fire is a method for management of renewable resources. The resources included are plant life, animal life, soil and air. • Fires change the abundance and diversity of species, but ultimately with prescribed fire we are able to save many endangered species who have adapted to fire-dependent ecosystems.