Forest fires are fires that happen due to natural causes, usually without any human activity involved. They are also known as bushfires or wildfires, mostly when they happen in areas with very dense vegetation. Besides endangering all life in that area, wildfires also have an impact on the air we breathe. So, if you’d like to learn more about the consequences, here’s how forest fires can pollute our air.

As mentioned, most forest fires happen naturally, when the weather is too hot. In those cases, dry branches and leaves can easily light up, and the fires can spread very quickly. They can also happen due to lightning strikes. However, an increasingly common cause is human irresponsibility. This includes smoking and dropping cigarette butts on the dry forest floor, burning garbage in nature, and similar activities. They can also happen due to power surges, damaged power lines, or military accidents. Finally, some people cause forest fires on purpose, due to their own individual or political reasons.

Forest fires can be divided into surface fires, crown fires, and ground fires. Surface fires are those that begin at the surface and spread along the forest floor. Some types of trees have adapted to this type of fire by developing higher branches so that the crown is less likely to catch on fire. They also usually have a thicker bark, which protects the trunk from the heat.

The third type is ground fire. This happens when the forest floor catches on fire and is often disastrous. If it happens during winter, under a snowpack, it can even burn for months. It mostly happens in higher-elevation forests, and it can take decades for the forests to recover from such fires.
Forest fires are a much more serious problem than most people think. And due to global warming, the risk of them occurring is getting higher every year. This is why it’s important for people to be aware of the consequences and do everything they can to avoid starting forest fires.