Wildfires

Wildfires: A high heat, unplanned fire in a rural area like a forest, field, or meadow; these fires can be difficult to contain, and left uncontrolled can move into more suburban and even urban areas.

Wildfires impact areas around the globe - even the Amazon Rainforest in recent years! Although a less common issue in the climate of New York, they have occurred in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, and in the Hudson Valley in some state parks, like on the Shawangunk Ridge and Hudson Highlands. Wildfires can be ignited naturally, by lightening for example, or accidentally by electrical infrastructure, and often by people being careless with campfires, cigarettes, or burning debris. Wildfires have an important function in many ecosystems, but due to human interruption of these natural burn areas & cycles, the fires can become much more powerful & uncontrollable, causing widespread damage to ecosystems, habitats, homes, and infrastructure - and having major pollution impacts on air, water & soil.

Choose your specific issue related to wildfires below to learn more: