Combating Wildfires

 “Wildfires are a result of temperature conditions, of soil moisture conditions; and, of course, something has to start it.”— John Holdren

(PC - David Gray / Getty Images)

The year 2020 saw unprecedented wildfires and forest fires around the world. On a hot summer day, when drought conditions peak, a spark can ignite a raging wildfire. Wildfire is a part of nature. Sometimes, fires occur naturally, ignited by heat from the sun or a lightning strike. Naturally occurring wildfires play an important role in nature by burning  decaying matter and returning nutrients to the soil. They also remove disease-ridden plants and harmful insects from an ecosystem. However, the majority of wildfires are the result of human carelessness such as:

• Arson
• Campfires
• Discarding lit cigarettes
• Improperly burning debris
• Playing with matches or fireworks

How firefighters fight it out?

• By depriving the fire of one or more of the fire triangle fundamentals  which include heat, oxygen and fuel. 
• Dousing existing fires with water and spray flame retardants. 
• Clearing vegetation from the land around a fire to contain and eventually starve it of fuel. 
• Creating backfires to remove undergrowth, brush, and litter from a forest thereby depriving an otherwise raging wildfire of fuel. 

The raging fires definitely complicate an already perilous profession. 

Presenting pictures  of the heroes of our life in action. These are clicked on Fire station Open Day which I attended. The firemen demonstrated how to tackle fires to raise awareness of this important job. Their bravery is inspiring and admirable.