Smokey the Bear

Summer is in full swing and so are the wildfires. Currently there are 47 wildfires blazing in the US, with the concentration of them in the west, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

The National Geopraphic reports on average, more than 100,000 wildfires, also called wildland fires or forest fires, clear 4 million to 5 million acres (1.6 million to 2 million hectares) of land in the U.S. every year. In recent years, wildfires have burned up to 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) of land. A wildfire moves at speeds of up to 14 miles an hour (23 kilometers an hour), consuming everything—trees, brush, homes, even humans—in its path.

 Although four out of five wildfires are started by people, nature is usually more than happy to help fan the flames. Dry weather and drought convert green vegetation into bone-dry, flammable fuel; strong winds spread fire quickly over land; and warm temperatures encourage combustion. When these factors come together all that's needed is a spark—in the form of lightning, arson, a downed power line, or a burning campfire or cigarette—to ignite a blaze that could last for weeks and consume tens of thousands of acres.

 The health and economic cost of these fires can be enormous. Appraisal of resources damaged by wildfire is not always straightforward. Human lives and adverse health effects are usually not considered in terms of dollar losses at all, and tallies of wildlife fatalities are rarely done. Habitat, scenery, ecosystem services, and other non-commodities are difficult to value, although there has been considerable study and published efforts in that regard. Rarely has there been any attempt to quantify the long-term consequences of a damaged renewable resource base to provide for the needs of an ever increasing present and future human society.

Unfortunetly, wildfires destruction overshadows some of the benefits, rightfully so. But after a burn there is a positive.  Fires aid in nutrient cycling, volatilize nutrients, thin forests, prepare seedbeds for regeneration, and topkill plants so they can resprout. They provide a large number of fundamental ecosystem services. 

Less than 3% of wildfires are natural. Most fires start from carelessness. While your out enjoying the great outdoors this summer, take caution when building and extinguishing fires. As the famous Smokey the Bear says - Only YOU can prevent forest fires.