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Table of Contents
A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire burning a forest or a similar area of combustible vegetation. It is also termed as wildfire, bushfire, or grass fire. A forest fire may last for days or weeks.
See the fact file below for more information on the forest fire or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Forest Fire worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
CAUSES OF FOREST FIRE
- A forest fire is an unwanted fire usually caused by natural phenomenon or human activity.
- Natural causes like lightning, volcanic eruption, and ignitive sparks from falling debris may cause a forest fire.
- Humans may cause forest fires intentionally or unintentionally.
- A campfire left uncontrolled or a lit cigarette thrown to the ground may ignite a flame that becomes unmanageable.
- If the act of setting fire to an area of vegetation is intentional, it is classified as arson and that is against the law.
IMPORTANT FACTORS
- There are various factors that could predict and contribute to the spread of a forest fire. These factors are as follows: weather, terrain, fuel, flammability, and source of ignition.
- A forest fire is more likely to spread quickly when there are strong winds, the area of vegetation is dry, and the temperature of the environment is high and the climate of the area is hot.
- A fire may grow more intense during daytime.
- The characteristics of the terrain where a forest fire is occurring also contribute to how quickly and vastly the fire may move.
- Fire is inclined to spread faster up steep slopes on mountainsides.
- Fuel is also important. Without fuel, a fire would fizzle out.
- Fuel to a forest fire includes the plants, trees, and grass in the area.
TYPES OF FOREST FIRES
- Fires can be classified according to their fuels.
- Ground fires are fed by organic material in the soil.
- Ground fires typically burn slowly and by smoldering, under litter or vegetation. These fires may take days, and even months.
- Surface fires, however, are fires that spread quickly.
- Also known as crawling fires, surface fires burn the low-lying vegetation, such as dry leaves, grass, branches, and other debris on the ground.
- Bigger than ground and surface fires are crown fires.
- Crown fires burn the tree tops which is why they produce large flames and extreme heat.
- Crown fires are also known as canopy or aerial fires.
- Crown fires are fueled by material at the canopy level, such as tall trees and vines.
- Depending on the height, density, and continuity of the canopy materials, the ignition of a crown fire could cause enormous damage to forests and ecosystems.
- Crown fires spread quickly and may spread even more quickly when exposed to steep slopes.
- Crowning is the term for a fire spreading rapidly through the canopy of the trees before affecting the forest floor.
- Another type of fire or ignition is spotting, which occurs when winds blow fireballs from crown fires onto unaffected areas. These fireballs are called firebrands.
- When firebrands are blown to new areas, the fire not only spreads more quickly, but spreads to a completely different area.
- An extremely vast forest fire that destroys a large area of vegetation is called conflagration.
CONTROLLING FOREST FIRES
- Forest fires can wipe out an entire area of vegetation, which is very destructive to our ecosystem, as it may affect the species of plants and other organisms living in that area.
- This is why it’s important to control forest fires once they begin to move.
- Firefighters are trained to control forest fires, no matter their size and the direction of where they spread.
- To stop a fire or at least reduce its intensity, it is best to get rid of the fuel that keeps the fire burning.
- A fire break is created by firefighters to remove the fuel.
- A fire break is a line created ahead of where the fire is moving towards.
- The fire would stop once it reaches the fire break because its fuel has run out.
- Another way to stop forest fires is to drop water or firefighting liquids from the air using airplanes, helicopters, or other aircraft.
- This method is called air drop.
PREVENTION
- Knowing the extent of damage that can be caused by uncontrollable forest fires, it is important to practice preventive measures rather than suffer the consequences.
- One way to prevent a massive forest fire is to limit the accumulation of vegetation, thus limiting accumulation of fuel. In this case, vegetation could be properly burned in a controlled manner from time to time.
- People should also be careful when building campfires. A campfire must be built in a safe location with proper materials. We must make sure it is completely put out after use.
- Structures close to forests and fire-prone areas must be built with flame-resistant materials. Flammable materials within the vicinity must be kept at a minimum.
Forest Fire Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the forest fire across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Forest Fire worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about a forest fire which is an uncontrolled fire burning a forest or a similar area of combustible vegetation. It is also termed as wildfire, bushfire, or grass fire. A forest fire may last for days or weeks.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Forest Fire Facts
- Terms to Remember
- Major Causes
- Quicker, Bigger
- Forest Fire Types
- Forest Fire Crossword
- Synonym Search
- Image Identification
- Devastating News
- Campfire Safety
- Before, During, After
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Link will appear as Forest Fire Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 6, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.