The Effects of Wildfires

1357 Words3 Pages

Fire at any level can be devastating, yet the effects that wildfires have on every worldwide country really has left its mark on the land. As written by world renowned wild fire spokesperson Smokey the Bear, “Every year, wildfires sweeps through parts of the United States setting wilderness and homes ablaze. On average these raging infernos destroy about four to five million acres of land a year. But in 2012, wildfire burned more than 9.3 million acres, an area about the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined” (U.S. Wildfires). Destroying homes, crops, towns and of course forests. Yet the effects of these fires can be seen from a negative perspective as well as some positive. Plus there are natural causes as well as manmade that makes these destructive fires erupt and become almost unstoppable in seconds.

Wildfires have been a major issue for many years; with the first one being recorded over four hundred and twenty million years ago the world realized they were dealing with an untamable monster. The effects that forest fires have on nature are by far extreme. Wildfire rips across the landscape tearing through and burning every living parcel in its path. If this occurs to often or burns for an excessive amount of time the natural cycle can be thrown out of balance. This equilibrium allows for the best the regeneration of the area and with this disturbance it may be slowed or even stopped. Along with plant life being thrown out of cycle the effects on nature’s creatures is also a major factor. With the loss of the majority of plant life causes the animal’s key food source is lost and many begin to migrate away from the area and into more adequate ones or some just starve to death. On top of losing a food source the anima...

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...r it is arson, an uncontrolled camp fire, or a cigarette butt it doesn’t take much for humans to spark a disaster. Yet there is as well a few set by good old Mother Nature. On top of the effects on the earth as well as humans, there is only one thing we all can do and that is listen to our old pal Smokey the Bear when he says, “only you can prevent wildfire.”

Works Cited

Yan, Holly, McLaughlin, Eliott C. and Hanna, Jason CNN reporters “Loss of 19 firefighters in Arizona blaze 'unbearable,' governor says” July 2nd 2013. January 22nd 2014 http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/us/arizona-firefighter-deaths/
Bear, Smokey Statics U.S. Wildfires, September 2nd 2013. January 26th 2014 http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.elm4you.org/src/pdf?vid=5&sid=f6be5858-1b24-4e9e- 9550-e265139422b2%40sessionmgr4002&hid=4104
Bear, Smokey http://www.smokeybear.com/, 2012. January 24th 2014

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