Wildfires were once a natural occurrence as well as nature’s way of repairing and restoring itself. Lightning and spontaneous combustion would occur in patches of land where vegetation dried out and the soil required replenishment. Fires would break out and then eventually wear down, clearing the land and allowing a new cycle of growth to occur.
These things are still true, but unfortunately, human beings have changed the game. Climate change, accidents, and outright arson now spark out-of-control wildfires, destroying acres of forests, prairies, and the like. Such fires have grown more frequent, and the intensity of the blazes has outstripped nature’s ability to heal.
It’s on us to prevent such devastating conflagrations from happening, so here’s an overview of the environmental effects of wildfires. Hopefully, as more people understand how badly a wildfire can destroy our natural resources, there will be a greater and more concerted effort to prevent them.
Ecosystem Disruption
Biodiversity Loss
The most immediate and visible effect of wildfires is habitat loss, which in turn leads to a loss in an area’s biodiversity. While some species can escape wildfires by running or flying away, many more cannot, resulting in soaring mortality rates.
What’s more, when trees and plants are destroyed, so is the food supply for many species, and shelter likewise becomes nonexistent. With no food or shelter, the surviving species are forced to move elsewhere, interfering with other plant and animal species’ lives in a sort of domino effect.
Altered Landscapes
Wildfires can drastically alter landscapes, transforming lush forests into barren lands. That’s a bigger deal than just losing pretty views. The loss of a tree canopy leads to increased sunlight penetration. This in turn alters the soil’s microclimate and moisture levels, further impacting plant regrowth and animal habitats. In some cases, plants and animals may not be able to regrow or return at all.
Invasive Species
Landscape changes can also lead to a change in the types of plants and animals that live there. After a wildfire, an area may become susceptible to invasive species that can outcompete native flora and fauna. These new species establish themselves, making it difficult for native plants and animals to recover and leading to long-term ecological imbalances. Familiar species that have inhabited an area for centuries may become a thing of the past, and endangered plants and animals may take another step toward extinction.
Poor Air Quality
Release of Pollutants
You might imagine that when a wildfire burns a patch of forest or other plant life, the smoke given off is no worse than what one might breathe near a campfire. Not so. Wildfires release a significant number of pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
These pollutants degrade local air quality, posing severe health risks to humans and animals alike. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is particularly concerning. It can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues in people and animals.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
They may be burning only natural substances like wood, leaves, and other organic matter, but wildfires contribute to long-term climate change as much as cars and factories. Wildfires release greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, for example, joins the CO2 already in the atmosphere, increasing heat and exacerbating global warming. The cycle continues as higher temperatures lead to more frequent and intense wildfires, leading to more CO2, and so on.
Smoke and Haze
Again, while the smoke from a campfire might have its charms and pleasant smells, wildfires produce more dangerous smoke in abundance. The smoke and haze from wildfires can drift hundreds or even thousands of miles, affecting air quality far from the fire’s origin. This creates low visibility conditions that disrupt daily activities, cause accidents, and more.
Smoke and particulates may also reach surrounding communities, affecting the health and safety of older people, children, people with respiratory and similar health issues, and other vulnerable members of the population.
Water Contamination
Runoff and Sedimentation
A wildfire consumes vegetation that holds soil in place, allowing soil to run off and fill creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, and other water sources with sediment. Intense heat may also cause hydrophobicity in the soil, which means the soil repels water carrying ash, sediment, and other contaminants. This may cause silting in rivers and streams, affecting aquatic life and water quality and diverting water from where it is needed most.
Chemical Contaminants
Not all natural areas are occupied only by natural substances. Man-made structures, such as visitor centers, cabins, and other buildings, may contain and release hazardous chemicals during a blaze. Such contaminants then enter the ecosystem, leaching into the soil and contaminating the water supply, making it harder for flora and fauna to return to an area.
Aquatic Life Impact
Sediment and chemicals aren’t the only threats to water after a wildfire. Sometimes, the water becomes so saturated with nutrients inherent in the soil that algal blooms form. Algae deplete the water’s oxygen levels, killing off fish and other marine life. Increased sedimentation may also smother aquatic life like fish, frogs, and other water-breathing or amphibious creatures.
Soil Erosion
Increased Flood Risk
Loss of vegetative cover and soil hydrophobicity doesn’t just lead to silt and sediment in the water supply and soil that’s unsuitable for growing new life. Without plants to absorb rainfall and stabilize the soil, rainwater flows rapidly over the surface. That leads to flash floods that cause still more erosion, damage surrounding infrastructure, lead to landslides and other hazards, and put human lives at risk in the immediate and nearby areas.
Mitigation and Recovery
These harmful wildfire effects paint a grim picture for the future, no doubt. But all is not lost. Thorough fire management by government agencies and local communities helps mitigate the environmental effects of wildfires. Controlled burns reduce the buildup of flammable vegetation, lowering the risk of large, uncontrolled wildfires. Fire prevention education and enforcement of regulations further ensure the threat of wildfires is kept low. Post-fire restoration efforts, like planting native vegetation to stabilize the soil, removing invasive species, and implementing erosion control measures, further help with recovery. Likewise, maintaining trained crews of wildland firefighters is key to stopping wildfires, sometimes even before they start.
If you’re part of a firefighting crew looking for new ways to safely tackle the threat of wildfires, contact us for a consultation. We offer the best in wildfire-fighting equipment, from lifesaving equipment like wildland fire shelters to personal protective equipment and clothing. Contact us today!