Introduction
With every moment that passed, dense smoke choked the air as the wildfire's flames rose higher and higher. What once refreshed our souls with purity became a suffocating enemy, slaughtering our lungs and destroying our health. These blazing flames ate up everything standing in their way, robbing every living thing of its soul and transforming every entity into suffocating ashes. The flames of the wildfire were vicious monsters, moving forward into the forests, moving to slaughter trees and animals, only stopping before their greatest enemy; rivers. People were speechless in front of this devastating natural disaster that moved as though it owned the world, turning what we breath for life into a terrible chronic disease that invades lungs and murders public health.
There are two types of wildfires; the first being the one capable of burning in vegetation located in the soil, and the second being the one capable of burning above the soil. To begin with, ground fires usually ignite in soil abundant with organic matter where the flames are fed from plant roots and the such. Ground fires burn for as long as an entire season until circumstances are suitable for them to grow into a surface fire. On the contrary, surface fires ignite in dead or dehydrated vegetation directly above the ground and are fed by dry grass and leaves.
Some Causes of Wildfires
Effects of Wildfires on Air Quality
Wildfires have drastic effects on the air quality around us. To demonstrate, a mixture of perilous air pollutants such PM2.5, NO2, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and lead make up wildfire smoke. Not to mention that besides contaminating the air with lethal toxins, wildfires also release massive amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere severely impacting the climate.
Particle pollution, also known as particle matter (PM), is a mixture of solid and liquid droplets suspended in the air, formed due to combustion-related activities such as wildfires. Such particles come in various sizes and shapes, and while some may be microscopic, other particles become so large they are visible to the human eye due to their drastic increase in concentrations during wildfires and combustion-related activities. Not only that, but those particles can be made up of different components like acids, inorganic compounds, organic chemicals, as well as metals and can easily penetrate buildings, houses, structures…
Furthermore, another threat from wildfire smoke is carbon monoxide (CO), also known as the silent killer. CO is a colorless and odorless gas that when inhaled leads to critical health conditions and even death.
Effects of Wildfires on Public Health
But the effects of wildfires don’t stop at ruining the quality of the air, but they also significantly deteriorate one’s health especially for the elderly, pregnant women, children, and all those suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
Besides the damage wildfires cause to houses, burning them down alongside killing thousands of people, the air pollution they cause severely impacts people’s health. In fact, a study has shown that PMs that are 10 micrometers (µm) and less in diameter are a leading cause for concern since they infiltrate the nose and trachea, entering the lungs. Not to mention that the smallest particles being less than 2.5 µm even translocate into circulation. Once inhaled, these particles negatively impact the lungs and heart, causing grave health conditions.
Some of the conditions that wildfires cause are:
Safety Measures
Several safety measures can be taken to lessen the danger of wildfires, such as preparing evacuation plans and centers as well as equipping buildings with necessary tools. First, governments should prepare evacuation plans and centers to help the people depart the areas with wildfires and find shelter afterward. For example, in Australia, state and territory authorities accountable for fire management have invested in coping capacities like early-warning evacuation text messages to the residents. In fact, as the Black Summer bushfires took hold, more than 100 evacuation centers were set up to provide displaced people with food, water, personal items, and a shelter to stay inside. The Australian Red Cross also provided free psychosocial support in evacuation centers for people and children who suffered from stress and anxiety. Moreover, governments must construct buildings and equip them with the necessary tools to protect people from the smoke of wildfires. To point out, houses in areas prone to wildfires can be constructed of fire-resistant bricks, steel, gypsum drywall, insulated concrete forms, and dual paned glass windows since these materials prevent fire from spreading into one’s home. Closed-off rooms that are equipped with air cleaners or filters should also be prepared inside the house to prevent the smoke outdoors from entering, and people should have respirators, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits.
Conclusion
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” ~ Robert Swan
Our future depends on what WE do today, so don’t let your future, your children’s future, and our world’s future burn into ashes. Don’t let our earth suffocate on the smoke of wildfires. Wake up from your trance and take action, for your act no matter how small can echo far beyond what you can imagine.
With every moment that passed, dense smoke choked the air as the wildfire's flames rose higher and higher. What once refreshed our souls with purity became a suffocating enemy, slaughtering our lungs and destroying our health. These blazing flames ate up everything standing in their way, robbing every living thing of its soul and transforming every entity into suffocating ashes. The flames of the wildfire were vicious monsters, moving forward into the forests, moving to slaughter trees and animals, only stopping before their greatest enemy; rivers. People were speechless in front of this devastating natural disaster that moved as though it owned the world, turning what we breath for life into a terrible chronic disease that invades lungs and murders public health.
What are Wildfires?
Bushfires, brush fires, or forest fires, all those are names used to describe wildfires, large, uncontrolled, destructive natural disasters that not only affect forests and grasslands but urban and rural areas too. Such fires are characterized by their rapid spread, sudden change in direction, and the way they can 'jump' across large distances when wind carries sparks. While the spread of a wildfire results from dry vegetation, dead wood, and weather conditions, those natural disasters can start in as little as seconds and last for as long as several weeks. There are two types of wildfires; the first being the one capable of burning in vegetation located in the soil, and the second being the one capable of burning above the soil. To begin with, ground fires usually ignite in soil abundant with organic matter where the flames are fed from plant roots and the such. Ground fires burn for as long as an entire season until circumstances are suitable for them to grow into a surface fire. On the contrary, surface fires ignite in dead or dehydrated vegetation directly above the ground and are fed by dry grass and leaves.
- Climate Change
- Lightning Strikes
- High Temperatures
- Low Winter Precipitation
- Dry Vegetation
Effects of Wildfires on Air Quality
Wildfires have drastic effects on the air quality around us. To demonstrate, a mixture of perilous air pollutants such PM2.5, NO2, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and lead make up wildfire smoke. Not to mention that besides contaminating the air with lethal toxins, wildfires also release massive amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere severely impacting the climate.
Particle pollution, also known as particle matter (PM), is a mixture of solid and liquid droplets suspended in the air, formed due to combustion-related activities such as wildfires. Such particles come in various sizes and shapes, and while some may be microscopic, other particles become so large they are visible to the human eye due to their drastic increase in concentrations during wildfires and combustion-related activities. Not only that, but those particles can be made up of different components like acids, inorganic compounds, organic chemicals, as well as metals and can easily penetrate buildings, houses, structures…
Furthermore, another threat from wildfire smoke is carbon monoxide (CO), also known as the silent killer. CO is a colorless and odorless gas that when inhaled leads to critical health conditions and even death.
Effects of Wildfires on Public Health
But the effects of wildfires don’t stop at ruining the quality of the air, but they also significantly deteriorate one’s health especially for the elderly, pregnant women, children, and all those suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
Besides the damage wildfires cause to houses, burning them down alongside killing thousands of people, the air pollution they cause severely impacts people’s health. In fact, a study has shown that PMs that are 10 micrometers (µm) and less in diameter are a leading cause for concern since they infiltrate the nose and trachea, entering the lungs. Not to mention that the smallest particles being less than 2.5 µm even translocate into circulation. Once inhaled, these particles negatively impact the lungs and heart, causing grave health conditions.
Some of the conditions that wildfires cause are:
- Chest tightness or pain
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing,
- Allergies and asthma
- Severe coughing
- Burning or stinging of the nose, throat, and eyes
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Safety Measures
Several safety measures can be taken to lessen the danger of wildfires, such as preparing evacuation plans and centers as well as equipping buildings with necessary tools. First, governments should prepare evacuation plans and centers to help the people depart the areas with wildfires and find shelter afterward. For example, in Australia, state and territory authorities accountable for fire management have invested in coping capacities like early-warning evacuation text messages to the residents. In fact, as the Black Summer bushfires took hold, more than 100 evacuation centers were set up to provide displaced people with food, water, personal items, and a shelter to stay inside. The Australian Red Cross also provided free psychosocial support in evacuation centers for people and children who suffered from stress and anxiety. Moreover, governments must construct buildings and equip them with the necessary tools to protect people from the smoke of wildfires. To point out, houses in areas prone to wildfires can be constructed of fire-resistant bricks, steel, gypsum drywall, insulated concrete forms, and dual paned glass windows since these materials prevent fire from spreading into one’s home. Closed-off rooms that are equipped with air cleaners or filters should also be prepared inside the house to prevent the smoke outdoors from entering, and people should have respirators, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits.
Conclusion
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” ~ Robert Swan
Our future depends on what WE do today, so don’t let your future, your children’s future, and our world’s future burn into ashes. Don’t let our earth suffocate on the smoke of wildfires. Wake up from your trance and take action, for your act no matter how small can echo far beyond what you can imagine.
Comments
Post a Comment
We will love to hear from you...
Share your thoughts with us!