Wild Fires and Causes UPSC CSE Notes

Wild fires and causes- role of humans - role of climate change (Prelims, Mains GS1, GS3)

Wild Fires and Causes

Also called bush or vegetation fire or wildfire
It can be defined as any uncontrolled and unprescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland or brush land, which consumes natural fuels and spreads based on environmental conditions such as wind, and topography.
Human-caused forest fires can be sparked by land clearing, extreme drought, or, in rare cases like lightning.
A wildfire must have three conditions in order to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.
Forest fires are highly risky in the northeast and central India regions.
Forest fires have been identified as being 'extremely prone' in Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh are among the states with large forest areas classified as "very highly prone."
Forest fires can be caused by a variety of natural factors, but human activities are the primary cause of many major fires in India.
New research links climate change to an increase in fires around the world, particularly the massive fires in the Amazon forests of Brazil and Australia in the last two years.
Longer-lasting fires, fires of greater intensity, fires that occur more frequently, and fires that are highly flammable are all linked to climate change.