Wildfires old
Wildfires, also known as forest fires or bushfires, typically occur when a combination of factors creates conditions conducive to the ignition and rapid spread of flames.
Wildfires occur due to combination of the following:
1. Wildfires begin with an ignition source, which can be human-caused or natural. Common human-caused ignition sources include discarded cigarettes, campfires left unattended, equipment sparks, power lines, and arson. Natural ignition sources include lightning strikes.
2. Fuel- Fuel refers to the vegetation, such as grass, shrubs, trees, and other flammable materials, that provides the substance for the fire to burn. The type, amount, and moisture content of the fuel play a crucial role in determining the intensity and spread of a wildfire.
3. Weather conditions strongly influence the behavior of wildfires. Factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction play significant roles.
- Low Humidity: Low humidity levels dry out vegetation, making it more susceptible to ignition and promoting the rapid spread of fires.
- High Temperatures: Hot temperatures contribute to the drying of vegetation, creating favorable conditions for fires.
- Wind: Wind can carry embers over long distances, accelerate the spread of flames, and make firefighting efforts more challenging.
Wildfires at Umatilla National Forest
Wildfire Data Analysis
The Wildfire dataset encompasses occurrences of wildfires across the USA spanning from 2000 to 2023. The dataset includes information on the total count of deaths and the number of individuals affected, providing quantitative insights.
Sample Data
| Disaster Type | Disaster Subype | Location | Total Deaths | Total Affected |
| Wildfire | Forest fire | Gainesville, Alachua areas (Alachua district, Florida province), Lafayette, Gulf districts (Florida province) | 0 | 600 |
| Wildfire | Forest fire | Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe districts (New Mexico province) | 0 | 25400 |
| Wildfire | Forest fire | Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Florida, North Dakota provinces | 14 | 1000 |
Access the whole dataset here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L_EbjiHZYTChjEllwEG0LX_4HavbomD3/edit#gid=1887285575
