Fire
Fire is a process of combustion characterized by the emission of heat and light. Fire disasters are uncontrolled and destructive fires that affect natural or human-made environments, such as forests, grasslands, buildings, or cities (UNDRR).
Types of Fire
Wild fire
Is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire that burns in an area of combustible vegetation and can be caused by natural phenomena such as lightning, or by human activities such as debris burning, arson, or campfires (Daley, 2017).
Human induced fire
Is a fire that is intentionally or accidentally started by human activity. Human induced fires can be a subset of wildfires, if they occur in natural areas, or they can be separate events, such as industrial accidents, oil spills, or urban fires (National Geographic Society, 2023).
Examples of Traditional and Indigenous knowledge
- Indigenous communities in Australia, the Guyana Shield region of South America and Canada use controlled burning early in the dry season to nurture their ecosystems, reduce the fuel load and fire intensity, as well as prevent large-scale, late-season wildfires and produce firebreaks around their camps and villages (UNESCO, 2023).
- Some communities, such as the Maroons in Suriname, the Zuni in the US, and the Sri Lankans in the dry zone, create water storage and drainage systems, which help them manage and utilize the firewater. For example, they dig wells, ponds, or tanks, which store water for domestic or agricultural use. They also construct canals, ditches, or terraces, which divert or drain excess water (Firewater Storage, 2013).
References
Daley, J. (2017). Study Shows 84% of Wildfires Caused by Humans. Retrieved from Smithsonian Mag: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/study-shows-84-wildfires-caused-humans-180962315/
Firewater Storage, T. R. (2013). Firewater Storage, Treatment, Recycling and Management: New Perspectives Based on Experiences from the United Kingdom. Retrieved from Water Journal: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/6/2/367
National Geographic Society. (2023). Wildfires. Retrieved from National Geographic Education: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wildfires/
UNESCO. (2023). Fighting fire with fire. Retrieved from https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/fighting-fire-fire