Causes of Wildfires

Human Activities:

Smoking

Smoking is the dominant cause of wildfire globally. Smokers tend to smoke under many different circumstances: driving, walking, biking, and so on. After they are done with a cigarette, they just throw it away without paying close attention to whether the cigarette butts are still lit or not. Due to smokers' indifferent and reckless actions, fires are started and spread.

Unattended Campfires

Camping is a most enjoyable experience. However, it can also be a disaster if the campfire is not put out properly and completely. Between 2006 to 2015, approximately 33,700 human-caused wildfires took place in the United States, and about one-third of them were due to the unattended campfires which destroyed more than 1.2 million acres of land, a survey says.

Burning Debris

Through burning, people are able to get rid of trash and useless things, but the debris burns slowly, and could result in a catastrophic fire.

Fireworks

Even though there are only small sparks in fireworks, it's enough to start a huge and disastrous wildfire. In addition, since we don't know where the falling pieces will be, they might end up in unattended places and lead to a wildfire.

Machinery Accidents

Car crashes and electrical short circuits can contribute to the start of a wildfire, especially when they are around flammable objects like trees or houses. In addition to car crashes, even the overheated bottom of the vehicle, or a spark on the lawn can cause a wildfire.

Arson

Some people prefer to act recklessly and irrationally in order to get someone's or society's attention. An example would be the disturbed man who started the Holy Fire.

Natural Causes:

Lightning

Natural causes account for about 10% of all wildfires. And most natural fires are caused by lightning. A lightning strike produces tremendous heat. Sometimes the lightning can strike power cables, trees, or rocks and other things that can trigger a fire.

Volcanic eruption

Volcanoes create a favorable condition for ignition of wildfires in the nearby areas. Wildfires are also caused due to pyroclastic clouds, generated from active volcanoes. Sometimes hot lava then flows into nearby fields or lands to start wildfires too.

Videos:

Better start at 0.55

References:

Jassy Y. ('19) & Henry Y. ('21)

Report abuse