Why fires start

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

All rights reserved. Climate Wildfires. 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.

Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big.

Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country. With serious fires, make no attempt to put out the fire. Instead, call the fire department immediately. Under no circumstances should you dump water over the grease fire, as this can cause the hot grease to explode and throw burning grease over the area.

Home space heaters and baseboard heaters can cause fire when fabrics and other combustibles are left too close to them. Heating and cooling appliances of various types are the second leading cause of residential fires, responsible for over 12 percent of all home fires.

Heaters that require fuel, such as kerosene are especially dangerous, as they can ignite or blow up if not properly watched. Electrical heaters can cause fires if the electrical wiring is faulty, or if draperies or other fabrics overheat when they come in contact with the coils. Always follow the instructions on any heating device you use, and inspect it regularly to ensure it is in good condition. Never leave the house with a heater running.

Space heaters almost always have instructions warning against unsupervised use, but thousands of house fires each year can be attributed to such appliances left running when homeowners are absent. Make sure flammable materials are kept well away from space heaters. Most typically, electric fires occur because of short circuits or loose connections causing arcing sparking that ignites building materials, or from circuits that are overloaded with current, causing wires to overheat. Electrical problems account for about 10 percent of all residential fires, but this type of fire is often deadly, accounting for about 18 percent of deaths due to home fire, according to the NFPA Home Structure Fires report.

This is likely because electrical fires often ignite in hidden locations and build into major fires before residents are aware of them.

And such fires frequently may ignite while residents are sleeping. Properly installed electrical systems are very safe, with a number of built-in protective features, but old, faulty wiring systems can be susceptible to short circuits and overloading.

It's a good idea to have your wiring checked out by a professional electrician, especially if you live in an older home. And don't perform your own electrical repairs or improvements unless you understand the principles of electricity and have experience doing such work.

Smoking is hazardous to your health in many ways—including the potential for igniting fires from cigarette butts dropped on carpeting, furniture, or other flammable materials. Fires from cigarettes and smoking materials cause nearly deaths and over 1, injuries each year in the U. While cigarettes and other smoking materials account for only about 5 percent of home fires, these are particularly deadly fires, responsible for about 23 percent of all fire deaths—the single most common cause.

This is likely because these fires often ignite when a resident falls asleep. Smoking in bed is especially dangerous, and should always be avoided at all cost. All it takes is a single stray ash to ignite a mattress, blanket, carpet, or piece of clothing. If you must smoke, do it outside whenever possible, or smoke over a sink while using an ashtray to help reduce your fire risk.

The National Fire Protection Association says that between and , candles caused an estimated average of just over 7, fires, with and average 81 deaths and injuries for each of those years. The matches and lighters used to light candles are equally dangerous if left in a place where children can reach them.

Keep matches and lighters locked in a secure place if you have kids, and never leave a candle burning in a room that is unattended. Candles can add a wonderful touch to family dinners and holiday celebration, but always extinguish them before leaving the room.

Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about. According to the USFA , even though every business is different, commercial fires tend to start for the same reasons.

As a business owner, it's important to be aware of these causes, so you can do your best to prevent them. Your business may have fire risks that aren't covered here. Commercial fire sprinklers can protect all types of businesses from fire, making them a worthwhile investment in your building and employees' safety.

Skip to Main Content. Loading Close. In other cases, just the heat of the sun beating down on the right organic material can be enough. A bolt of lightning striking dry ground with a temperature of 30, kelvin has explosive fire-spreading potential. But natural and unavoidable causes pale in comparison to human negligence, which is the number one cause of wildfires. Negligence and general lack of care around fire safety can cause fires to start with deadly consequences.

Wildfires are most commonly caused by carelessness — if not out and out arson. Just think about that for a second; people have lost their homes, livelihoods — and even their lives — because of a flung cigarette butt, a barbecue in a field, setting off fireworks or because someone has intentionally started a fire.

In the right conditions, a wildfire spreads in a near-unstoppable manner. Driven by wind, with abundant fuel and an upward gradient, fire can devour a landscape with frightening speed. The speed of fire should never, ever be underestimated.

The first step to prevention is knowledge.