An uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation that spreads quickly, wiping out large areas of land is called a wildfire. A wildfire can also be termed a forest fire, a grass fire, a peat fire or a bushfire depending on the type of vegetation.

During summer, when there is no rain for months, the forests become littered with dry leaves and twigs, which could burst into flames ignited by the slightest spark.

Natural causes: Lightening is the most common cause of bushfire. There are three conditions for a bushfire to spread – fuel, oxygen and a heat source. In the forest, anything that is flammable is a fuel. This includes tall, dry grass, bushes and trees. High temperature, drought and dry vegetation are a perfect combination for igniting a forest fire.

Human-made disaster: Human neglect such as downed powerlines, sparks from tools or forest machinery, abandoned campfires and discarded cigarette butts can spark fires. People also tend to clear forests by setting them on fire to pave way for cultivation. Sometimes they set fire to scare away wild animals and the fire could spread and turn disastrous.

In Australia:

Summer is the season of fire in Australia with hot, dry weather making it easy for blazes to start and spread. Most of the time, it is natural causes such as lightning that trigger a fire, but sometimes human are also to blame. New South Wales police have charged at least 24 people with deliberately starting bushfires, and have taken legal action against 183 people for fire-related offences since November, according to reports.

 

Picture Credit : Google