Impacts and Responses to Wildfires (AQA A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Rhiannon Molyneux
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Primary & Secondary Impacts of Wildfires
Primary effects are the immediate and short-term impacts of wildfires
Secondary effects are the impacts that occur later on after the wildfire has been extinguished
Primary and Secondary Impacts of Wildfires
| Primary impacts | Secondary impacts |
|---|---|---|
Social | Deaths and injuries Displacement of people Damage to properties and infrastructure causing disruption to people’s lives Damage / destruction of crops
| Mental health issues e.g. stress, anxiety, depression Health issues such as respiratory illness caused by smoke inhalation Homelessness Food shortages |
Economic | Destruction of property and infrastructure leading to significant costs for repair and reconstruction Disruption of trade and economic activity Loss of crops and timber Loss of income and employment Costs of immediate responses | Slower economic growth and development Increased economic inequality as impacts are more severe for most vulnerable people Increased costs of insurance and hazard management strategies |
Environmental | Destruction of habitats and ecosystems Loss of biodiversity Atmospheric pollution from smoke and toxic gases Water pollution as ash gets into water | Long-term impacts of food webs and ecosystems Increased soil erosion and leaching due to lack of trees and vegetation Damage to soil and loss of soil fertility Increased risk of flooding Release of carbon emissions contributes to climate change |
Political | Pressure on governments to co-ordinate emergency response | Changes in forest management policies to reduce chances of fire |
Responding to Wildfires
Short- and long-term responses
Short-term Responses | Long-term Responses |
|---|---|
Firefighters work to contain and extinguish the fire as soon as possible Warnings and evacuation notices issued Fire diverted away from settlements Water sprayed onto land and buildings to reduce flammability Search and rescue operations implemented Monitoring of air quality to issue advisories about risk of respiratory illness | Public education campaigns to reduce chances of wildfires Preparation and training of emergency services Creating firebreaks in forested areas to reduce spread Using less flammable materials in construction e.g. using more stone and brick rather than wood Improvement of monitoring and warning systems Restoration of damaged ecosystems |
Preparedness and Adaptation
Preparedness and adaptation include making people more aware of hazards and taking action to minimise risk
Satellites and infrared sensors can be used to improve early detection and monitoring
Warnings can be issued to allow time for evacuation
Evacuation plans can be prepared and emergency services trained to improve response
People can prepare emergency kits to ensure they have essential items to hand
Education campaigns can inform people how to create defensible spaces around their homes
Mitigation and Prevention
Strategies can be implemented to reduce the chances of wildfires and extinguish them as quickly as possible
There are various strategies to extinguish wildfires and limit their spread
Firefighters often use helicopters and aeroplanes to drop water and fire retardants onto fires to reduce the intensity of the fire and slow its spread
Backburning is a strategy where firefighters light small fires ahead of a larger wildfire to reduce the amount of fuel available to help slow or stop the spread of the fire
Public awareness campaigns and rules on use of campfires and barbecues can reduce the chances of a wildfire starting
Weather can be monitored for conditions that cause high risk of fires (e.g. dry vegetation, strong winds, lightning storms)
Alerts and fire bans can then be implemented to residents urging extra caution
e.g. Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are used to advise residents to act with caution in USA
Firebreaks can be used to reduce the chances of wildfires spreading by creating deliberate gaps in forested areas
Controlled burning can reduce the amount of fuel available
Improvement to infrastructure allows better access for emergency vehicles during wildfires
Land-use zoning can be used to reduce the amount of flammable material in areas at higher risk
Building codes can be implemented to ensure fire-resistant materials are used in construction and sprinkler systems are installed
Case Study – Black Summer Bushfires, Australia
Background
The 2019-20 bushfire season began in September 2019 and ended in March 2020
It was one of most devastating wildfire seasons in Australian history
The fires burned over 20 million hectares of land and it is estimated that over 1 billion animals were killed
Causes
2019 was Australia’s driest and hottest year on record
Record-breaking temperatures combined with strong winds created perfect conditions for wildfires
Much of Australia’s forest is made up of eucalyptus trees which are highly flammable
Loss of traditional fire management strategies used by Aboriginal people has increased vulnerability
Some fires were lit deliberately, though others were caused by lightning strikes
Large bushfires can create their own storms which cause more lightning strikes
Primary and Secondary Impacts of the Black Summer Bushfires
| Primary impacts | Secondary impacts |
|---|---|---|
Social | 33 people were killed directly Approximately 80,000 people were displaced Almost 6000 buildings were damaged or destroyed causing disruption to people’s lives Health issues / injuries caused by exposure to smoke and ash
| Almost 450 people died from snoke inhalation Mental health issues e.g. stress, anxiety, depression Health issues such as respiratory illness
|
Economic | Disruption to tourism, agriculture, forestry and other industries e.g. loss of tourism estimated to cost over $4 billion Destruction of farms, crops and livestock estimated to cost around $5 billion Cost of firefighting estimated at over $2 billion
| Insurance companies paid out significant amounts for damages and losses leading to higher insurance premiums Slow down in economic activity due to disruption to trade and industry reduced GDP growth Cost for reconstruction of homes and infrastructure |
Environmental | Destruction of habitats and ecosystems with an estimated 3 billion animals killed or displaced e.g. on Kangaroo Island, almost half the population of koalas were killed Smoke, ash and chemicals polluted the air, soil and water impacting ecosystems and biodiversity e.g. air quality in Sydney and Melbourne was hazardous Release of over 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide | Long-term impacts of food webs and ecosystems Increased soil erosion and loss of soil fertility due to lack of trees and vegetation Release of carbon emissions contributes to climate change Smoke from the fires depleted the ozone layer by 3-5% Smoke circulated around the world decreasing air quality in neighbouring countries
|
Political | International aid and support arrived with many countries sending firefighters and supplies to help tackle the fires Government response was criticised for being too slow Raised awareness of need to tackle climate change and improved disaster response
| Government response was criticised for failing to address the root causes of the fires The National Bushfire Recovery Agency was created to improve response to bushfires and help with the rehabilitation and reconstruction in affected communities
|
Short-and long-term responses
Short- and Long-term Responses to the Black Summer Bushfires
Short-term Responses | Long-term Responses |
|---|---|
Around 80,000 firefighters from Australia and other countries such as New Zealand, Canada and USA tackled the fires The Australian Defence Force provided support with around 6500 soldiers deployed Temporary accommodation was set up in sports centres and community halls The government paid out a Disaster Recovery Payment of $1000 per adult affected Fundraising campaigns raised money for the response e.g. animal rescue groups such as the RSPCA and WWF raised almost $200 million for animal rescue and rehabilitation | Government committed over $2 billion to bushfire recovery and provided financial assistance to affected communities and businesses Provision of mental health services for affected people Development of a range of mitigation strategies e.g. the creation of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency to co-ordinate relief efforts and support reconstruction Environmental restoration through initiatives such as the creation of a koala hospital and breeding programme Policies to tackle climate change e.g. through a shift towards renewable energy |
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