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A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire occurring in nature. Sometimes, the forest fire is so large that it takes a long time for the fire fighting crews to gain control over the situation. This could result in massive destruction.

In Norway, an average of about 1100 forest fires occur each year. Most of these are small and relatively easy to control. Only two per cent of the registered forest fires in Norway are larger than 100 decares (100 000 m2).

Many forest fires are due to human activity
The number of forest fires varies from year to year, and quite a long time may elapse between forest fires that are considered to be large. Climatic conditions are the factor that has greatest impact on the extent of forest fires. The forest is most vulnerable in spring and summer seasons when there are long dry spells. Weather conditions such as precipitation and wind, as well as the layout of the terrain, are important factors in determining the size of the forest fire.

It is estimated that as many as nine out of ten forest fires are caused by humans, although the causes of a significant number of forest fires remain unknown. The most common cause of such fires is the use of open flames and disposable barbecue grills. Even a cigarette that is not properly extinguished can cause a forest fire. Some forest fires also start as a consequence of downed power lines, sparks from trains, sparks from edge trimmers along roadways or sparks from tools and forestry machinery doing work in the forest. Natural forest fires are due to lightning strikes.

In some cases, fires are set deliberately. The June 2008 forest fire in Froland in Aust Agder county is the largest and most serious recent example. This fire burned for 13 days and large crews from the fire service, the civil defence and the Armed Forces participated in the extinguishing efforts. At most, 15 helicopters were in the air to put out the fire. 77 residents in the community of Mykland had to be evacuated from their homes for a period of time. The fire affected an area of 27 000 decares, of which 19 000 decares were productive forests.

Building fires in or near forest land is prohibited during the period from 15 April to 15 September.

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A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire occurring in nature. Sometimes, the forest fire is so large that it takes a long time for the fire fighting crews to gain control over the situation. This could result in massive destruction. In Norway, an average of about 1100 forest fires occur each year.

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In the past two decades, the number of Americans at risk of experiencing a wildfire has doubled. Learn what you need to do if one is near you.

In the wake of Maui's deadly wildfires-where many died, and a historic town once known as the capital of Hawaii's monarchy was destroyed-residents and tourists are reeling from the damage.

The fires that burned through the island were worsened by intense winds from a nearby hurricane and drought conditions. Some experts have also said invasive grasses not native to the island created more flammable conditions that fed the fire's flames. Hawaii is not historically known for wildfires, but-like many parts of the world-is seeing more intense fires because of climate change and mismanaged land.

Wildfires can burn millions of acres of land at shockingly fast speeds, consuming everything in their paths. These rolling flames travel up to 14 miles an hour, which converts to about a four-minute-mile pace, and can overtake the average human in minutes.

Destruction caused by wildfires in the United States has significantly increased in the last two decades. An average of 72,400 wildfires cleared an average of 7 million acres of U.S. land each year since 2000, double the number of acres scorched by wildfires in the 1990s. In 2015, the largest wildfire season recorded in U.S. history burned more than 10 million acres of land.

Because much of the U.S. is expected to get hotter and drier with climate change, wildfire risk is generally expected to rise. At the same time, as the population in the United States rises and people increasingly move into rural and wilderness areas, more homes and other structures are likely to be placed in harm's way.

That's why it's critical to understand how wildfires get started, how to stop them, and what to do when they occur.

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How wildfires start

Though they are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as natural disasters, only 10 to 15 percent of wildfires occur on their own in nature. The other 85 to 90 percent result from human causes, including unattended camp and debris fires, discarded cigarettes, and arson.

Naturally occurring wildfires can spark during dry weather and droughts. In these conditions, normally green vegetation becomes bone-dry, flammable fuel; strong winds spread fire quickly; and warm temperatures encourage combustion. With these ingredients, the only thing missing is a spark-in the form of lightning, arson, a downed power line, or a burning campfire or cigarette-to wreak havoc.

Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California, on November 12, 2018. That blaze burned nearly 97,000 acres in Southern California, killing three people and damaging an estimated $6 billion in property.

Photograph by Eric Thayer, Reuters

Natural or man-made, three conditions must be present for a wildfire to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Firefighters call these three elements the fire triangle.

Fuel is any flammable material surrounding a fire, including trees, grasses, brush, even homes. The greater an area's fuel load, the more intense the fire is likely to be. The most wildfire-prone state is California, which lost 2,569,386 acres of land to 7,396 wildfires in 2021.

Air supplies the oxygen a fire needs to burn. California wildfires are often made worse by the hot, dry Santa Ana winds, which can carry a spark for miles. In Hawaii, Hurricane Dorian's winds helped feed the flames burning on Maui.

Heat sources help spark the wildfire and bring fuel to temperatures hot enough to ignite. Lightning, burning campfires or cigarettes, and even the sun can all provide sufficient heat to spark a wildfire.

Violent infernos are most common in the western states, where heat, drought, and frequent thunderstorms create ripe conditions. Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and California experience some of the worst conflagrations. Wildfires also occur around the world and in most of the 50 states.

How they are stopped

Firefighters battle blazes by depriving them of one or more of the fire triangle fundamentals. One traditional method is to douse existing fires with water and spray fire retardants. Firefighters also sometimes work in teams, often called hotshots, to clear vegetation from the land around a fire to contain and eventually starve it of fuel. The resulting tracts of land are called firebreaks.

Firefighters may also employ controlled burning, creating backfires, to stop a wildfire. This method involves fighting fire with fire. These prescribed-and controlled-fires remove undergrowth, brush, and litter from a forest, depriving an otherwise raging wildfire of fuel.

Benefits of wildfires

Although they can be dangerous to humans, naturally occurring wildfires play an integral role in nature. By burning dead or decaying matter, they can return otherwise trapped nutrients to the soil. They also act as a disinfectant, removing disease-ridden plants and harmful insects from an ecosystem.

High winds and hot temperatures fanned a 1996 wildfire in the foothills around Boise, Idaho, into an inferno that burned for seven days. When it was finally extinguished, the outbreak-dubbed the Eighth Street Fire-had scorched some 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) and stripped bare two of the region's major watersheds.

Photograph by Mark Thiessen

Wildfires thin forest canopies and undergrowth, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and a new generation of seedlings to grow. In fact, some species of trees, like sequoias, rely on fire for their seeds to even open.

In Hawaii, however, invasive grasses not native to the state may have worsened Maui's fires. This flammable grass now covers about a quarter of Hawaii's total land area, and the average area burned by wildfires has grown 400 percent in the past 100 years, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.

What to do in a wildfire

Wildfires devastate anything in their path. And while they are difficult to stop, there are many steps people can take before, during, and after wildfires to limit their damage.

Before:

If you know a wildfire is traveling toward your area, the best thing to do is leave. Immediately.

If you live in a fire-prone area, it's best to prepare ahead of time. Have an evacuation plan in mind and a "go bag" with emergency supplies already packed during fire season.

Trim brush, weeds, and other potential fuels on your property, especially around your home.

Put away grills, propane tanks, or other flammable materials that may be in your yard.

Close all doors and windows and fill sinks, tubs, and other containers with water to discourage fire.

Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies.

When you purchase a home in a wildfire-prone area, avoid neighborhoods on slopes that are steep or barren, suggests the California Chaparral Institute. Although some people fear that houses near shrubs are more likely to burn, that's not necessarily the case, the institute says. Rather, a landscape without vegetation can be the perfect runway for winds to bring embers, which are one of the biggest threats to homes during a wildfire.

Wetting your roof may help reduce the risk of airborne embers catching, says the California Chaparral Institute. In fact, some people in fire-prone areas even install rooftop sprinklers for that purpose.

If you cannot leave as a fire approaches, dial 911. Then don an N95 respirator to help reduce smoke and particle inhalation.

During:

Listen for emergency alerts.

Stay inside. Go to the safest building or room with the lowest smoke levels. Crouch low for the best air. If you don't have a mask, breathe through a wet cloth.

If you are caught outside, try to find a body of water to crouch in. If you can't, find a depression with the least vegetation and lie low, covering yourself with wet blankets, clothes, or soil if possible.

After:

Do not return until instructed to do so.

Listen to authorities before drinking water from the area.

Avoid items that are hot, smoky, or charred.

Text friends and family, but don't call. Lines may be busy.

Wear a dust mask and document property damage.

Beware of the risk of flooding, since trees and protective vegetation might have been removed, exposing loose soil.

This article originally published in August 2019 and has been updated with new information.

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What caused Maui's wildfires to move shockingly fast? Here's what we know.

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In the past two decades, the number of Americans at risk of experiencing a wildfire has doubled. Learn what you need to do if one is near you.

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Fire may injure or kill part of a plant or the entire plant, depending on how intensely the fire burns and how long the plant is exposed to high temperatures. In addition, plant characteristics such as bark thickness and stem diameter influence the susceptibility to fire.

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Another source

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Forests are amazing places covering almost a third of the Earth's land, including over 700 million acres in the United States (that's about 529 million football fields!). Forests are home to a huge variety of plants and animals, providing them with food, water and shelter. Our forests are very valuable. Not only are they places of beauty and outdoor fun, we also rely on trees for fuel, food, raw materials and medicine. Even more importantly, trees and plants in the forest make sure that the Earth's temperature is livable and that we have enough oxygen to breathe.

Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires that are very dangerous to people who use the forests and outdoor areas or live in nearby homes and communities. Wildfires can also cause a lot of damage to some plants and animals and their homes.

In some cases fire is good for a forest, but unplanned fires that burn too hot can make it hard for the forest to recover. Can a forest ever recover from wildfire? The answer is yes, but unfortunately, it can take a very long time. An average forest is about 70-100 years old, and the trees in some forests can be 4,000-5,000 years old!

To help protect these amazing places, remember Smokey's Five Rules of Wildfire Prevention:

1. Only you can prevent wildfires

2. Always be careful with fire

3. Never play with matches or lighters

4. Always watch your campfire

5. Make sure your campfire is completely out before leaving it

To learn more about our nation's forests and other outdoor areas, check out DiscoverTheForest.org. You'll find games and activities to enjoy indoors and out. And, best of all, you can use a search tool to find the forest closest to you.

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Hey, kids! Learn how to help Smokey Bear prevent wildfires.

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One of our Sources

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Unlike many natural disasters, most wildfires are caused by people-and can be prevented by people, too. Meteorologists are not yet able to forecast wildfire outbreaks, so people in fire-prone areas should plan ahead and prepare to evacuate with little notice. Here are some tips on how to prevent wildfires and what to do if you're caught in the middle of one.

How to prevent a wildfire

Contact 911, your local fire department, or the park service if you notice an unattended or out-of-control fire.

Never leave a fire unattended. Completely extinguish the fire-by dousing it with water and stirring the ashes until cold-before sleeping or leaving the campsite.

Always take care when using and fueling lanterns, stoves, and heaters. Make sure lighting and heating devices are cool before refueling. Avoid spilling flammable liquids and store fuel away from appliances.

Do not discard cigarettes, matches, and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Be certain to completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

Follow local ordinances when burning yard waste. Avoid backyard burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water, and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check. Remove all flammables from the yard when burning.

Evacuation tips

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Know your evacuation route ahead of time and prepare an evacuation checklist and emergency supplies.

Wear protective clothing and footwear to reduce harm from flying sparks and ashes. (Get more wildfire safety information.)

Before you leave, prepare your home

Remove combustibles, including firewood, yard waste, barbecue grills, and fuel cans, from your yard.

Close all windows, vents, and doors to prevent a draft.

Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies.

Fill any large vessels-pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, or tubs-with water to slow or discourage fire.

<p>Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California, on November 12, 2018. That blaze burned nearly 97,000 acres in Southern California, killing three people and damaging an estimated $6 billion in property.</p>

If caught in a wildfire

Don't try to outrun the blaze. Instead, look for a body of water such as a pond or river to crouch in.

If there is no water nearby, find a depressed, cleared area with little vegetation, lie low to the ground, and cover your body with wet clothing, a blanket, or soil. Stay low and covered until the fire passes.

Protect your lungs by breathing air closest to the ground, through a mask or moist cloth, if possible, to reduce smoke inhalation.

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Wildfire safety tips, facts, and information

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Wildfires are often preventable, because many originate from human error.

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Source on how to prevent them, kinda

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Unlike many natural disasters, most wildfires are caused by people-and can be prevented by people, too. Meteorologists are not yet able to forecast wildfire outbreaks, so people in fire-prone areas should plan ahead and prepare to evacuate with little notice. Here are some tips on how to prevent wildfires and what to do if you're caught in the middle of one.

How to prevent a wildfire

Contact 911, your local fire department, or the park service if you notice an unattended or out-of-control fire.

Never leave a fire unattended. Completely extinguish the fire-by dousing it with water and stirring the ashes until cold-before sleeping or leaving the campsite.

Always take care when using and fueling lanterns, stoves, and heaters. Make sure lighting and heating devices are cool before refueling. Avoid spilling flammable liquids and store fuel away from appliances.

Do not discard cigarettes, matches, and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Be certain to completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

Follow local ordinances when burning yard waste. Avoid backyard burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water, and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check. Remove all flammables from the yard when burning.

Evacuation tips

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Know your evacuation route ahead of time and prepare an evacuation checklist and emergency supplies.

Wear protective clothing and footwear to reduce harm from flying sparks and ashes. (Get more wildfire safety information.)

Before you leave, prepare your home

Remove combustibles, including firewood, yard waste, barbecue grills, and fuel cans, from your yard.

Close all windows, vents, and doors to prevent a draft.

Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies.

Fill any large vessels-pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, or tubs-with water to slow or discourage fire.

<p>Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, California, on November 12, 2018. That blaze burned nearly 97,000 acres in Southern California, killing three people and damaging an estimated $6 billion in property.</p>

If caught in a wildfire

Don't try to outrun the blaze. Instead, look for a body of water such as a pond or river to crouch in.

If there is no water nearby, find a depressed, cleared area with little vegetation, lie low to the ground, and cover your body with wet clothing, a blanket, or soil. Stay low and covered until the fire passes.

Protect your lungs by breathing air closest to the ground, through a mask or moist cloth, if possible, to reduce smoke inhalation.

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Wildfire safety tips, facts, and information

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Wildfires are often preventable, because many originate from human error.

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Smol source