Midwest still has wildfires....learn to prevent them.

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Protect not only your home but your community.

There are two typical types of causes when it comes to forest fires. They are Human and Natural.

Natural forest fires are most likely the result of lightning with a much smaller percentage being caused by spontaneous combustion.

Spontaneous combustion is usually caused by an incredibly dry climate. When dead leaves, branches, and foliage gather and become extremely dry, heat and sunlight may cause these clusters to ignite.

While the most common cause of the wildfire is human action.

There may be several reasons forests ignite as a result of humans. 

• Cigarettes
• Campfires
• Timber equipment
• Fireworks
• Controlled burns
• Arson 
• Down or arcing power lines
• General carelessness of humans

While wildfires caused by human error are more common, they tend to destroy a smaller area because they’re easier to detect and stop once they start.

This is also because human-caused fires happen closer to populated areas and are reported faster. While the odds of a man-made fire being reported early are higher, this is not always the case. Several recent incidents of campfires, power lines, and other reasons are responsible for starting fires in remote areas.

When lightning strikes or combustion occurs deep in the middle of a forest, it can take hours before someone detects it, and even longer dispatch the equipment and manpower to stop the fire. By then-momentum has started and severe damage has begun. 

While there isn't much we can do about mother nature and we don't have the dense forests that are out west-we still can host devastating fires. Take care and pay attention to what you burn, where you are burning, and what you do. Your small spark could have huge consequences.