Wildfires: Cyclical events or human negligence?

Already this year, wildfires have ravaged the countrysides of California and Athens, but are these natural hazards preventable or a natural process that needs to be allowed to happen?

Sometimes caused by lightning, drought or human action, wildfires can quickly spread, consuming the thick, dried-out vegetation and almost everything else in its path. What was once a forest becomes a blazing inferno fuelled by virtual keg of kindling. Despite authorities best intentions, these fires can move so fast, that they can often engulf t­housa­nds of acres ofland, threatening the homes and lives of many in the vicinity.

An average of five million acres burns every year in the United States, causing millions of dollars in damage­. Once a wildfire begins, it can spread at a rate of up to 14.29 miles per hour (23 kph), consuming everything in its path.

Arson, accidental ignition or the use of fire in land-clearing are all examples of how wildfires start and get out of control. Human negligence such as discarding lit cigarettes, matches and burning debris are more than not the reason fires start causing vast damage and destruction. However, it's not just the flames that cause chaos. Along with the flames and smoke often comes erosion, landslides, introduction of invasive species, and changes in water quality, often providing more disastrous than the wildfire itself.

However, fires can have their benefits.

Often started as a form of 'fire suppression' to prevent larger, more severe fires in the future from a build-up of combustible vegetation, wildfires can be beneficial to the environment, being as much of a help as a menace. Ignited by government agencies in 'controlled burns', fires are allowed to burn, clearing out under-brush, restoring soil nutrients and thinning out tree canopies. In fact, several plant species are dependant on the effects of fire for growth and reproduction.

There is also evidence to suggest that wildfires are cyclical, burning in a seasonal pattern that is largely repeated around the globe each year. On every continent except Antarctica, fires ebb and flow in response to cyclical weather conditions and regular human burning practices, consuming billions of acres in their wake.

However, the fact remains that only 5 percent of wildfires are naturally occurring.

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