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¶ … Forest Fires: Another Culprit in Climate Change?
Forest fires have always been menace to people's lives and properties. The threat becomes even more severe when these fires occur during the dry summer season since the containment of which becomes even more challenging. There are variable causes of forest fires from human-caused such as irresponsible campers building fires and unable to control the spread thereof to natural-causes such as during a lightning strike. In the case of the forest fire in the Columbia River Gorge located west of Lyle, Washington, the fire started with a downed power line (The Oregonian 2010). More than likely, when the power line fell the sparks produced initiated the fire and the dried plants and trees where the power line fell caught fire. From there, the unthinkable Domino Effect ensued where a wildfire spread and "has burned about 1,200 acres of forest land. Fortunately, the fire has destroyed one structure...
(The Oregonian 2010)" Besides the downed power line causing the initial fire outbreak, additional factors contributed to the succeeding fires, "sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts as high as 50 mph started other fires (The Oregonian 2010)" that saw various firefighting organizations and several hundred firefighters coming together to control and stop the further devastation brought by the wildfires.
Equally important aside from knowing the causes of forest fires is also understanding the effects thereof. Most prevalent of course is the destruction of huge tracks of forest land and properties that are in the way of the onslaught. It is not unusual to see deaths of humans and animals alike from burning or even suffocation from the smoke. But one effect that has been postulated is the increase in green gas emissions which makes it a contributory factor in climate change and global warming. The reason may seem logical because the appearance of voluminous smoke may indeed be indicative of strong green gas emissions that will further exacerbate…
Bibliography:
Oregon State University. "Effects of Forest Fire on Carbon Emissions, Climate Impacts Often Overestimated." ScienceDaily. 01 Feb. 2010. 29 Jul. 2011. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127121532.htm>.
The Oregonian. Fast-Moving Wildfire Burning in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. 27 Aug. 2010. 29 Jul. 2011. <http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/08/fast-moving_wildfire_burning_in_columbia_river_gorge_national_scenic_area.html>.
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