We Didn't Start the Fire...

By now, most of you have heard about the wildfires blazing across different parts of California, most notably the Rim Fire just west of Yosemite National Park. The Rim Fire is now the states third largest wildfire ever, having abused 237,341 acres so far. It's 80% contained, but that still leaves another 20 to worry about.

Rim Fire seen from space

The thing about wildfires is that they are a naturally occurring, necessary part of the ecosystem. When fires consume a forest, they recycle all that biomass back into the soil in the form of much needed nutrients. It's like Mother Nature's way of digesting. Now, if your house just got burned to the ground, you're probably not about to say "Oh, well, part of nature you say? That's alright than." Nutrients being added to soil is a small consolation for those who have lost everything they own, or even their lives.

Obviously, we need to learn to live with these kind of events. And, although they can be a naturally occurring phenomenon, 4 out of 5 wildfires are caused by humans. This can be anything from letting a campfire get out of control (which caused the Rim Fire) to just flicking a cigarette butt out of your car window. Climate change can compound these factors even more by leaving areas in dry or drought conditions.

The point is that we will always have to deal with wildfires. Even if we could stop them from happening ever again, that is an ecologically poor idea. What we can do is work harder to not add to the problem. If you live in or near wooded areas, be aware of the fire dangers. Pay attention to the signs that tell you how probable fire danger is. Make sure your campfires are out when you leave. DON'T HAVE BONFIRES WHEN THERE IS A FIRE BAN IN YOUR AREA (http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestFire/restrictions.asp). And for the love of all that is holy, stop flicking cigarette butts into the grass.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/5/hunter-may-have-causedrimfire.html
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/wildfires/