Investigating How Wildfires Start and What to Do to Prepare

According to the National Park Service, almost 85% of wildfires start from human causes. Wildfires move quickly and unpredictably. Since they give little warning when one is headed your way, it's smart to understand how they start and spread and what you can do to stay safe. 

Source:  luke flynt on Unsplash

What Causes Wildfires to Start?

There are human-caused wildfires and nature-caused wildfires. Hot, dry conditions mean that either of these causes could spark a wildfire near you. 

Human Activities: A Major Cause of Wildfires

Humans use fire for cooking, warmth, and entertainment. When these fire sources get out of control, wildfires can start. Power lines are one main way wildfires are often caused by human action. Other causes include:

• Campfires 
• Discarded cigarettes 
• Arson (intentionally setting fires)
• Burning trash
• Fireworks
• Electrical malfunction
• Vehicles 

Almost all of these causes are 100% preventable. People often don't realize how the smallest flame or smoke they are using can quickly spread into a blaze. 

One recent infamous example is the 2020 gender reveal party that resulted in the death of a California firefighter. These parties used colored smoke in either blue or pink to announce the gender of a new baby, but the smoke can quickly ignite dried grass, as it did in the 2020 disaster. 

Innocent uses of flame, like fireworks, campfires, or colorful smoke, can end in tragedy if there are drought conditions present.

Source: EcoWest

Natural Causes: How Wildfires Ignite

Wildfires do occur naturally. Lightning strikes are the most common reason and cause hundreds of fires per year. The strong winds fan the flames, especially in drier regions, causing the wildfire to spread rapidly

Volcanic activity can also spark fires as magma can ignite nearby vegetation. When a lot of dry organic material is present, like sticks and grass, the tinder can actually spontaneously combust.  The sun's heat can also ignite very dry material, resulting in a hotter cycle.

Naturally-occurring wildfires can actually be beneficial for the environment, as they provide room for new growth and help certain plants release seeds. The trend recently, though, has been towards an alarming increase of human-caused fires that trigger enormous damage. 

Common Ignition Sources: From Power Lines to Campfires

Downed power lines, unattended campfires, and smoldering cigarette butts are all highly dangerous.

To prevent these from sparking a fire, take the following precautions:

• Maintain all equipment and vehicles to prevent sparks 
• Immediately report any downed power lines you see, and don't approach them
• Extinguish cigarettes or cigars appropriately
• Always completely wet and cover used campfires 

Source: Sera Cocora on Pexels

How Do Wildfires Spread?

Wildfires start small but quickly spread. Knowing the risk factors for wildfire spread can help you understand the danger posed by local conditions and prepare appropriately based on your region. 

Topography and Its Role in Fire Spread

Fires do not spread at a steady pace across all terrain. Fire moves more quickly up steeper slopes because the heat of the fire reaches combustible material faster. Ravines can act like chimneys, intensifying the fire. 

Understanding the topography in your region can help you plot out multiple evacuation routes in the event that natural wildfires occur. Plan routes that are more protected from spread, and always have multiple paths to safety planned in case of unpredictable fire movement out in the wild. 

The Impact of Weather Conditions

Keeping an eye on the weather is important for wildfire safety. Avoid using fire for recreational use if there are wildfire alerts. Make sure you have your fire survival plan updated and ready to go, especially if you're out during fire season. 

Weather conditions can increase the risk and cause the fire to spread much faster. Some of these include:

• Low humidity 
• Drought
• Gusting Winds
• Thunderstorms

The last one may seem counterintuitive, but in fact thunderstorms can create perfect conditions for wildfires thanks to quick evaporation and gusting winds. 

The Role of Dry Vegetation and Fuel

Fire needs oxygen and fuel. While you can't do anything about drought conditions, you can protect your home by providing 30 feet of clear, defensible space around your home.

This means using materials that won't burn, like gravel or brick. Make sure that there is no debris, like sticks or weeds, sitting in piles around your home. 

Keep vegetation like trees and bushes trimmed so they don't provide additional fuel for a wildland fire. 

Source: Clay Banks on Unsplash

When and Where Do Wildfires Typically Occur?

Some regions and seasons are more at risk for wildfires. Knowing when there is a higher risk will help you stay vigilant. Plan for extra maintenance of your mechanical implements like cars and power tools during these times to make sure you don't cause a spark during a dry season. 

Understanding the Wildfire Season

Wildfires are more common during dry, hot seasons. This means summer, but that peaks at a different time depending on your geographic area.

On average, mid-June through early September are the danger zones. 

High-Risk Areas: Wildland and Forests

Wildfires can cause enormous damage to homes and property when they cross from undeveloped wildland into habited areas. 

The area where human-built land meets and intermingles with wildlands is called the wildland urban interface, and it is highly dangerous. 

This isn't limited to the West. We've all seen a brand-new housing development separated only by a cornfield from a wooded area. The mixture of highly-concentrated vegetation in close proximity to extremely flammable housing creates the perfect situation for rapid spread and a high level of threat to human life and property, and is fast becoming a common cause for wildfires. 

Source: FEMA Number of houses in the WUI relative to the total houses in the state* (%)

If this sounds like where you live or work, keep a close eye on weather conditions, plant overgrowth, and fire warnings. Yard maintenance, especially within the first 15 feet of the house, can retard uncontrolled fire spread.

Knowing how to prepare firebreaks can help protect your home. Check out this video here for more fire safety tips. 

You might even want to start a Fire-Adapted Community group to collectively manage the parks, public trees, and transitional zones that present a fire risk. 

A Regional Breakdown: Wildfires in the U.S.

It's estimated that 16% of the U.S. population lives in a high fire risk zone. 

Some areas have higher risk for wildland fire because of weather, topography, development, and previous burns. 

The top ten states at risk for severe wildfires are:

• Texas
• California
• North Carolina
• George
• Oklahoma
• Florida
• Alabama
• Oregon
• Montana
• Mississippi

California and the Pacific Northwest are two areas in the United States notorious for wildfires.

In California, rapid development, climate change, and existing dry and mountainous conditions have led to over 230,000 acres of land burned so far in 2024 alone. It may reach a million acres or more by the end of the season due to the high winds.

Since the Pacific Northwest is known for its rainfall, it might seem strange that it's experiencing an uptick in fires. Projections show that increased irresponsibility around fire paired with changing climate, will lead to more fires.

What Are the Effects of Wildfires?

Wildfires are devastating to humans, property, and ecology. Tragically, more than 500 people have died as a result of wildfires in the U.S. since 1990. 

Air Quality and Health Impacts

Even if your home is not directly affected by the flames, the air quality effects of wildfire can reach thousands of miles. 

For example, the 2023 Canadian Wildfires spewed smoke that reached down into the U.S. Midwest. This caused Chicago to have the worst air quality in the world for a few days. 

Smoke can cause both acute and chronic lung problems, especially in vulnerable populations like infants and the elderly. The contents of wildfire smoke are highly toxic and can include compounds like lead, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. 

Wildfire smoke can cause permanent damage even with minimal exposure. Consider stocking up on a high-quality smoke mask and filter in your escape kit to minimize the risk of lung injury. 

Environmental Consequences

Wildfires can cause catastrophic damage to the environment. Wildfires launch greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, affecting the entire planet in addition to the local ecosystem.

These fires can wipe out standing forests, which host complicated ecosystems made up of millions of kinds of living organisms. These trees can take hundreds of years to grow to full height, making the regrowth process slow. 

Furthermore, destroying trees and undergrowth causes soil erosion. This happens because the root systems hold the soil in place. When those plants and roots have been burned, nothing holds the soil where it should be any more. This means it can rapidly wash away (erosion) or even cause mudslides when rain comes. This eroding soil can pollute local water systems, affecting humans and animals. 

Source: Laureen Raftopolous on Pexels

Restoration efforts can help aid the local ecosystem after a fire. Some steps include:

• Replanting
• Controlling invasive species
• Mechanically preventing erosion
• Reintroducing depleted animal populations
• Testing soil

These efforts can take years and go hand-in-hand with efforts to restore human habitations. 

Economic and Social Effects

Wildfires can devastate local economies and cause ongoing social problems. 

The cost of wildfire to the U.S. economy is astonishing: between $394 and $893 billion annually. This counts more than just the structures destroyed and property. It includes lost income, damage to water sources, crop and timber loss, reduced tourism, and more. 

Source: Joint Economic Committee

Evacuation disrupts people's lives and jobs. Local social services can be strained as widespread damage leads to a large number of insurance claims and aid requests. 

Even restoring electricity and plumbing can be difficult following a wildfire. Clearing land can be an extensive undertaking and often needs to be delayed for more urgent efforts, like preventing erosion. Rebuilding homes can take years and lead to increased personal and social costs as survivors live in temporary housing or hotels for an extended period. 

How Can Wildfire Risks Be Minimized?

Given the enormous costs and risks associated with wildfires, we need to think seriously about preventing fires and how to minimize risks of living near a high-risk zone.

Preventive Measures for Human Activities

Since 85% of wildfires are caused by humans, we need to determine how to make human activity less risky. 

Maintaining your car and farm equipment is one way to prevent fires. Damaged equipment can drag on the pavement or on dry grass, creating sparks that can ignite a blaze. It's a pretty common reason for wildfires started by humans.

Campfires are some of the most notorious causes of a majority of wildfires, so it's worth knowing how to properly extinguish a campfire:

• Completely douse the fire with water
• Mix ashes and embers with dirt 
• Feel the mixture and surrounding rocks for any heat
• Everything should be cool to the touch
• Add more water, just to be sure

If you're in the dry season regionally, think twice before using any smoke or spark-based entertainment like colored smoke or fireworks, especially on the forest floor.

Finally, be sure that all cigarette butts are disposed of in a fireproof container. Never throw them on the ground or out the car window. They can continue to burn in high temperatures, and prove to be an ideal heat source that can end up burning millions of acres, especially if there's dry brush around.

Your local government may even post a fire ban during high risk times. It's important to follow these -remember, you could be saving your own life along with the neighborhood. 

Firefighter Strategies and Roles

Firefighters are crucial to protecting life and property if a fire does occur. They are specially trained to understand how wildfires move and how to fight them most effectively considering local conditions.

You might see fire departments conducting "controlled burns." These are intentional, carefully monitored fires designed to clear away extra underbrush. This minimizes the fuel available for a future, more dangerous fire. 

Source: Pixabay

Community Preparedness and Response Plans

One individual can start a wildfire but it affects everyone. Communities can work together to create emergency preparedness plans. 

Things to keep in mind when planning for a community response:

• Schools and daycares
• Specific at-risk neighborhoods
• Land clearing-measures
• Elder-care centers and nursing homes
• Equity in rebuilding and evacuation
• Multiple evacuation routes
• Number of firefighters available
• Speed of additional help from outside communities

Understanding the enormous risks to life and property can help achieve buy-in from community members who might not see the need to keep brush cleared or construct fire breaks and limit fire activity. At the very least, educating neighbors about evacuation routes and emergency preparedness can help reduce the risk and keep your community safer.