Wildfire: Large, Uncontrolled Fires

A wildfire is a large, uncontrolled fire which can destroy an area of land very quickly. Areas with no human population are the most common places for wildfires to occur, however wildfires can occur in populated areas and have the ability to destroy houses, organisms, and agriculture. A wildfire requires three conditions to occur : fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Any flammable material in the area surrounding the fire is fuel. The amount of fuel determines the intensity of the fire. Oxygen is necessary for fire to burn. Air provides this oxygen. Heat sources are what actually spark the fire and heat the fuel to a temperature where it can catch fire.Although wildfires can occur naturally, roughly ninety percent of all wildfires are caused by
humans and are preventable. Campfires and cigarettes are the most common ways wildfires start. Even though a small minority of wildfires are caused naturally, Earth can still naturally help to spread wildfires. One of the causes of fire spreading at fast rates is usually strong winds. When it comes to natural wildfires, the weather and the climate play a big part in the creation of wildfires, whether it be from lightning strikes or a drought. Dead leaves, twigs and trees that accumulate can get hot enough to catch on fire and start start a wildfire. Although wildfires are destructive and can be harmful to humans in their path, the wildfires which occur naturally play a huge role in nature by returning nutrients to soil through the burning of decaying/dead matter. Wildfires also remove plants infected by diseases and harmful insects from forest ecosystems.In the image to the right, from September 13, 2016, the red spots represent fires which are spreading in Russia.