2. INTRODUCTION
The most common hazard
in forests is forests fire.
They pose a threat not only
to the forest wealth but also
to the entire regime to
fauna and flora seriously
disturbing the bio-diversity
and the ecology and
environment of a region.
During summer, when
there is no rain for months,
the forests become littered
with dry senescent leaves
and twinges, which could
burst into flames ignited by
the slightest spark.
3. Forest fire causes
imbalances in nature and
endangers biodiversity by
reducing faunal and floral
wealth. Traditional
methods of fire prevention
are not proving effective
and it is now essential to
raise public awareness on
the matter, particularly
among those people who
live close to or in forested
areas.
Forest fire causes
4. CAUSES OF FOREST FIRE
Causes of forest fires can be divided into two broad
categories: environmental (which are beyond control) and
human related (which are controllable).
ENVIRONMENTAL
Many forest fires start
from natural causes such
as lightning which set
tr ees on fire. However,
rain extinguishes such
fires without causing
much damage.
High atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low
humidity) offer favorable circumstance for a fire to start.
5. Environmental
causes are largely
related to climatic
conditions such as
temperature, wind
speed and direction,
level of moisture in
soil and atmosphere
and duration of dry
spells.
Environmental causes
6. oFire is caused when a
source of fire like
naked flame, cigarette,
electric spark or any
source of ignition
comes into contact with
inflammable material.
oHUMAN RELATED
7. Human Related causes
Result from human activity as well as methods of forest
management. These can be intentional or unintentional,
for example:
Graziers and gatherers of various forest products starting
small fires to obtain good grazing grass as well as to
facilitate gathering of minor forest produce.
The centuries old practice of shifting cultivation
(especially in the North-Eastern region of India and
inparts of the States of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh).
The use of fires by villagers to ward off wild animals
fires lit intentionally by people living around forests for
recreation
8. The causes of forest fire
have been increasing
rapidly. The problem has
been accentuated by the
growing human and
cattle population. People
enter forests ever more
frequently
to graze cattle, collect
fuelwood, timber and
other minorforest
produce. It has been
estimated that 90% of
forest fires in India are
man-made
9.
10. EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE
loss of valuable timber resources
degradation of catchment areas
loss of biodiversity and extinction
of plants and animals
loss of wildlife habitat and
depletion of wildlife
loss of natural regeneration and
reduction in forest cover
global warming
loss of carbon sink resource and
increase in percentage of CO2 in
atmosphere
change in the microclimate of the
area with unhealthy living
conditions
11. soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and
production
ozone layer depletion
health problems leading to diseases
loss of livelihood for tribal people and the
rural poor, as approximately 300 million
people are directly dependent upon collection
of non-timber forest products from forest
areas for their livelihood.
EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE
12. Forest ecosystem
Change in landscape
Effect on photosynthesis
Effect on food web
Effect on seed capacity
Effect on new recruits
Loss of v aluable timber resources.
Degradation of catchment areas.
Loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and
animals.
Loss of wild-life, habitat and depletion of wild-life.
Loss of natural regeneration and reduction in forest
cover.
IMPACTS OF FOREST FIRE
13. Global warming.
Loss of carbon sink resource and increase in
percentage of C02 in the atmosphere.
Change in the microclimate of the area with unhealthy
living conditions.
Soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and
production.
Ozone layer depletion.
Health problems leading to disease.
Loss of livelihood for the tribal and rural poor, as
approximately 300 million people
(including 70 million tribal) are dependent upon
collection of non-timber forest
products from the forest areas for their livelihood.
IMPACTS OF FOREST FIRE
14.
15. CASE STUDY
THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE & PESHTIGO FIRE
The Great Chicago Fire was
a conflagration that burned
from October 8, to October
10, 1871, killing hundreds
and destroying about 3.3
square miles (9 km2) in
Chicago.
Though the fire was one of
the largest U.S. disasters of
the 19th century, the
rebuilding that began helped
develop Chicago as one of
the most populous and
economically important
American cities.
16. The traditional account of the origin of the fire is that
it was started by a cow kicking over a lantern in the
barn , but the official report could not determine the
exact cause.
The fire's spread was aided by the city's use of wood
as the predominant building material, a drought prior
to the fire, and strong winds from the southwest that
carried flying embers toward the heart of the city.
More than ⅔ of the structures in Chicago at the time
of the fire were made entirely of wood.
After two days of the fire burning out of control, rain
helped douse the remaining fire. City officials
estimated that more than 300 people died in the fire
and more than 100,000 were left homeless.
17.
18. The Peshtigo Fire was a forest fire that took place
on October 8, 1871 in Peshtigo, Wisconsin,
Coordinates 45.05°N 87.75°W. On the same day as
the Peshtigo and Chicago fires the cities of Holland
and Manistee, Michigan, across Lake Michigan, also
burned.
On the day of the fire, a cold front moved in from the
west, bringing strong winds that fanned smaller fires
and escalated them to massive proportions. A
firestorm ensued.
By the time it was over, 4,860 km² or 1.2 million acres
of forest had been consumed. Twelve communities
were destroyed. An accurate death toll has never
been determined because local records were
destroyed in the fire. Between 1,200 and 2,500
people are thought to have lost their lives.
