Climate change is causing forest fires to become more intense and frequent. A report released by the United Nations in 2022 noted that the intensity of global forest fires is expected to increase by 57% by 2090 due to climate change. Forest fires are becoming more active and difficult to control, with heat waves, persistent droughts, and extreme fires becoming the norm.
What is a forest fire
Forest fires are the most dangerous enemy of forests and the most terrible disasters of forestry, and they can bring the most harmful and devastating consequences to forests. Forest fires not only burn down forests and harm the animals in them, but also reduce the reproductive capacity of forests, cause soil impoverishment and destroy forest water conservation, and even lead to an imbalance of the ecological environment.
Causes of forest fires
(1) Man-made fire
These include the following:
1.Productive fire sources: fire for agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry, fire for forestry and sideline production, fire for industrial and mining transportation, etc.;
2.Non-productive fire sources: such as outdoor cooking smoke, cooking, paper burning, heating, etc.;
3.Intentional arson: burning hay, setting off firecrackers, etc.;
Among the fires caused by man-made fires, forest fires caused by reclamation and burning and smoking are the most common. Among the forest fires in our country, fires caused by cooking smoke, burning wasteland and burning paper on graves account for the absolute number.
(2) Natural fire
Including lightning, fire, spontaneous combustion, etc. Forest fires caused by natural fires account for about 1% of the total number of forest fires in China.
Forest fire hazards
One of the hazards: causing forest tree species succession.
Forest fires not only kill many trees, reduce stand density, and destroy forest structure, but also cause tree species succession. In the aftermath of a forest fire, many century-old trees were burned to death and replaced by low-value species and shrubs and weeds.
Hazard 2: Triggering secondary natural disasters.
Due to the burning of forests, the forest land is exposed, and the role of conserving water and soil is lost, resulting in the ecological imbalance and barren land in local forest areas, and other natural disasters such as waterlogging, drought, mudslide, landslide, and sandstorm. It often takes decades or hundreds of years for this ecological damage to be largely restored.
Hazard 3: Induce forest diseases and pests.
After forest fires, the forest environment changes dramatically. The growth of trees burned by fires has declined, providing a favorable environment for the emergence of a large number of forest pests and diseases, and accelerating the death of forest trees. After a forest fire, it is very easy to break out large-scale forest pests and diseases, which is called "forest fire without smoke and dust", and the damage to the ecology is incalculable.
Hazard 4: Destruction of understory plant resources.
In addition to providing timber, the forest also contains abundant wild plant resources. All of these forest by-products have important commodity value and economic benefits. However, forest fires can burn these precious wild plants, or change their habitat due to fire disturbances, significantly reducing their numbers and even extinct some species.
Hazard 5: Endangering wild animals.
The forest is home to a variety of exotic animals and animals. When a forest is fired, it destroys the environment in which wild animals depend, and sometimes even burns or injures wild animals. Due to the destruction of forests caused by fires and other reasons, many wild animal species in China have become extinct or endangered.
Hazard 6: Reducing the water quality of downstream rivers.
Forests are mostly distributed in mountainous areas, with steep slopes, and once they suffer from fire, the soil erosion and loss of woodland are much more serious than those in the plains. Large amounts of sediment can be carried downstream into rivers or lakes, causing siltation in rivers and leading to changes in nutrients in the water, resulting in a significant decline in water quality. In particular, fish that prefer to live in cold water often die in large numbers after forest fires.
Hazard 7: Causing air pollution.
Forest burning produces large quantities of smoke, the main components of which are carbon dioxide and water vapour, which account for about 90% to 95% of all smog components. In addition, forest burning also produces carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, carbides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which account for about 5% to 10%. Except for water vapour, all substances above a certain limit can cause air pollution, which is harmful to human health and the survival of wild animals.
Hazard 8: Threatening the safety of people's lives and property.
Forest fires are often caused by **people**. More than 1,000 people die every year due to forest fires around the world. Forest fire prevention is an important part of China's disaster prevention and mitigation work, an important part of the construction of the national public emergency response system, and an important guarantee for social stability and people's living and working in peace and contentment. Doing a good job in forest fire prevention has a bearing on forest resources and ecological security, on the safety of people's lives and property, and on the overall situation of reform, development, and stability.
Hazard No. 9: The number one killer of natural scenic spots.
The forest contains very rich wild animal and plant resources, especially in large areas of state-owned forest areas, nature reserves and scenic spots, there are a variety of ancient and famous trees, famous flowers and plants, and rare birds and beasts, all of which are rare and precious treasures of human beings. However, forest fires can burn these precious resources to the ground, and they are known as the "number one killer of natural attractions".
Hazard 10: The biggest obstacle to ecological civilization.
Forests are the foundation of ecological civilization, and green is the spiritual home of human beings. Forest fires are the first of the three major natural disasters in forests, and preventing fires is about protecting forests. China is implementing afforestation and returning farmland to forest, however, forest fires can burn large areas of forests in a short period of time, can destroy the results of artificial afforestation, delay the strategic process of ecological civilization, endanger ecological security, and even endanger the world
How to prevent forest fires
Do not engage in activities such as barbecues, picnics, and bonfires to avoid starting forest fires.
When working outdoors in windy weather, pay attention to electricity safety.
The construction site should be cleaned every day to remove wood chips, dirt and other combustibles.
In rural areas, fire ash and coal ash should not be poured indiscriminately, but should be extinguished with water, poured in a safe place, and should not be close to flammable and combustible materials.
Do not burn incense, burn paper, and light candles in the mountains and forests. Advocate civilized sacrifices, express the sorrow for the ancestors in a healthy and civilized way, and consciously put an end to fire hazards.
In the event of a forest fire, leave the danger zone quickly.
When a fire breaks out, non-professionals should not put out the fire by themselves, and should call the police immediately on 12119.
How to save yourself from forest and grassland fires.
Forest fires are divided into general forest fires, large forest fires, major forest fires, and particularly major forest fires. When it comes to forest fires, we should do the same.
Ignition to break the siege. When there are no rivers, streams, or roads to rely on, if time permits, use an igniter to light a downwind fire, and the firefighters follow the fire into the fire site to avoid the fire, and use their hands to pick up the underground wet soil, breathe close to the wet soil or cover their mouth and nose with a wet towel to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Forcibly cross the line of fire against the wind. When the ignition or other conditions are not available, do not run downwind, choose a flat area that has been burned or sparsely weeded, cover your head with clothes, quickly cross the fire line against the wind, and enter the burned area to escape safely.
Lie down and avoid smoking. When it is too late to ignite the fire and there is a nearby river (ditch) or a windward flat area with no vegetation or sparse vegetation, cover your head with water-soaked clothes, put your hands on your chest, and lie down to avoid smoke (fire). When lying down to avoid smoke (fire), in order to prevent smoke from choking and suffocating, cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel, and make a soil pit to breathe close to the wet soil to avoid smoke damage.
Quick transfers. When you find that a fire is coming and you can't control it, as long as time permits, quickly move to a safe place to avoid it**.
The 2024 Beijing International Security and Emergency Industry Expo, hosted by the China Association for Disaster Prevention, will be held at the China International Exhibition Center (Chaoyang Pavilion) in September 2024. With the theme of "Smart Emergency Response, New Era of Security", this year's Beijing International Security Expo will focus on platform monitoring, early warning equipment, solutions and other monitoring and early warning systems, safety protection systems and other industry content.
The Beijing International Security Expo has set up an exhibition area for smart emergency products and comprehensive rescue products, with a variety of exhibits on display in forest and grassland fire monitoring and early warning, disaster relief, recovery, etc., and sincerely invites colleagues in the emergency industry to visit and guide, and work together for the development of the safety and emergency industry.
*: Meijiang release, **fire protection, Dali popular science, Guizhou police.