Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
¶ … control of wildfires continues despite growing evidence that fire is necessary for good woodland health. Some authorities maintain that wildfires should be allowed to take their course while others argue that fires are dangerous events that need to be controlled in every case. To determine the facts, this paper reviews the literature in support of the proposition that wildfire can co-exist with humans and should be allowed to burn when it ignites "naturally." A discussion concerning whether fires that are accidentally started should that be treated differently is followed by an analysis of whether prescribed fire is worth the expense and smoke? Finally, an evaluation of Smokey the Bear as a good spokesperson for the whole issue of wildfire or whether he is biased is followed by a summary of the research and important findings concerning wildfire in the conclusion.
Review and Analysis
The earth is a fundamentally a planet of fire, born in fire and shaped by fire for billions of years, including up to the present day. Given the enormous destructive potential of fire, it is not surprising that humankind has a primordial fear of fire that has translated into an overarching desire to control it. In some cases such as fires in...
In other settings such as forests, though, fire can be a positive force because it helps burn off accumulated debris on the forest floor that can impede healthy growth (Keiter 301). These issues have become the focus of a growing controversy over proper fire-control policies across the country. For instance, Keiter advises that, "A spate of record-setting fire seasons have seen millions of acres burned, hundreds of homes destroyed, numerous lives lost, and multi-million dollar fire suppression bills" (302).
Despite the potential for harm to humans, the story is far different when it comes to forests and federal authorities have recognized the importance of fire for health ecosystems (Keiter 302). In fact, even prior to the outbreak of the 1988 fires in Yellowstone National Park that consumes thousands of acres of forest, park authorities were allowing fires that were naturally started by lightning to burn uncontrolled in order to overcome the accumulated effects of 50 years of relentless fire suppression (Keiter 302). According to Keiter, "By the mid-1990s, the federal agencies formally acknowledged…
Works Cited
Keiter, Robert B. (2006, Spring). "The Law of Fire: Reshaping Public Land Policy in an Era of Ecology and Litigation." Environmental Law 36(2): 301-304.
"Smokey Bear has a fresh new look." (2014, August 11). CBS News. [online] available: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/smokey-the-bear-turns-70-years-old-gets-makeover/.
Vandlik, John M. (1995, May-June). "Voting for Smokey Bear: Political Accountability and the New Chief of the Forest Service." Public Administration Review 55(3): 284-288.
Small fires, on the other hand, are less intense, and therefore cause less damage to the pine. The low air temperature in many areas of shortleaf pine growth help the heat of the fire dissipate, and therefore, more fire is required to raise the temperature of the plant cambium to the point of killing the tree. Also, if debris on the ground is only dry on top, but has
Forest Fires and Suppression Fires are a powerful, natural phenomenon that can have a huge impact on the ecosystem and the people living in the area. A forest fire (more commonly referred to as wildfire) is any fire that may occur in a combustible vegetative environment or wilderness area. Forest fires can be ignited by either natural forces or by man's negligence. Other causes are all man-made. Fires are instigated by
The apathy of private landowners discussed earlier may be due to the feeling that one may not feel that individual efforts are important. However, the case in Waldo, Florida demonstrates just how important the actions of one individual can be in averting danger. Bend, Oregon has developed large community efforts to help reduce fuel in the area. They open up the landfill several times a year free of charge to
Environmental Effects on Species Habitats in the Southern California Mountains Southern California is not for everybody. "Some people view the climate and laid-back lifestyle with longing. Others perceive the area, and its inhabitants, as a little too far over the edge" (Hutchings 2001:4D-Z). While the region may not appeal to all types of humans, it does attract a wide range of species who make their home in the mountainous areas
...This whole country is dry...If you don't have to burn it, don't burn it" said the fire marshal from the area (Shay & Johnson 2008). Fire damage at Yellowstone such as the damage that occurred in 1988 and 2008 has come at a tremendous cost: "Since 1984, the annual average number of fires that burn 1,000 acres or more has increased from 25 to 80...and the total average number of
It was then important to see the degree at which technology and training played a role in combating each fire. 1.2.4.Rationale of the Study What is that can be gained from this study? The reasoning behind such a study is born out of a need to provide better training for fire fighters so that fire management systems will improve and reduce the amount of loss due to the fire. By studying