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Wildfires

Wildfires. Josh Tanner Camille Evans Victoria Taufer. Surface – Most common type and burns along the floor of the forest, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees. Ground – Usually started by lighting and burns on or below the forest floor in the human layer down to the mineral soil.

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Wildfires

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  1. Wildfires Josh Tanner Camille Evans Victoria Taufer

  2. Surface – Most common type and burns along the floor of the forest, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees.

  3. Ground – Usually started by lighting and burns on or below the forest floor in the human layer down to the mineral soil

  4. Crown – Spread rapidly by wind and move quickly by jumping along the tops of trees.

  5. What a Fire Needs: Fire Triangle 

  6. How a Fire Starts: • Carelessness by humans • Cigarettes • Campfires • Arson • Lighting • Natural Combustion

  7. Inside the Fire: • Speed of flames • Intensity • Temperature • FIRE!!

  8. California Fires: • Since 2007 over 271,000 acres destroyed by wildfires. • Billions of dollars spent on recovery so far. • Less expensive to fight fires than to prepare for them.

  9. Why California’s a Hotspot? • Unnatural buildup of vegetation • Native plants depend on fire for reproduction • Fire season begins in October because of Santa Ana winds coming in. • Little rain = dry conditions in summer • Very hot climate

  10. Up Close to the Fire: • California fire in progress

  11. South Africa Fires: • Greatest threat is to grazing land. • Extreme dry conditions little rainfall make ideal conditions for fires. • Greatest affect on rural areas. • 2008 – Most recent fire with 45 dead.

  12. How This Affects Utah: • We fit in most extreme danger zone in the U.S. • Population is greater here than on the plains of Africa. • Need to realize the danger is REAL here!

  13. We Can Prevent Fires: • Bad Camper • 75% of fires caused by people. • Be careful and cautious when we are outdoors. • Put out ALL embers of fires we make outdoors.

  14. Be Prepared: • Follow local codes in order to avoid restrictions on materials and plants. • Mark driveway, house number, and make sure firefighters can get to your home. • Make a family evacuation plan • Make sure family knows about wildfire danger.

  15. Not All Bad: • Fires do good too: • Clear away debris • Speeds up nutrient recycling of soils • Clears away grass & shrubs to make way for new seedlings to grow.

  16. Why Make a Difference: • Smokey says so: • Video • Keep people safe • Common sense will increase if used • Keep smoke from getting up in atmosphere. • Protect wildlife

  17. Questions?

  18. References: • http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/5-ways-wildfires-start.html • http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/wildfire.html • http://web.nmsu.edu/~canarago/ • http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/iffn/country/za/za_8.html • http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-13/south-african-fires-destroy-free-state-grazing-land-sapa-says.html • http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/wildfires-in-south-africa_105f# • http://www.ktvb.com/news/BLM-on-average-75-of-fires-are-human-caused-127973873.html • http://www.smokeybear.com/

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