When fires break out in Arizona, they often take root in tinder-dry landscapes. As a result, the effects of these wildfires can linger long after the flames have died out.
This is why fires are so devastating to Arizona's ecology. They not only destroy thousands of acres of land, but also alter the terrain and destroy property.
Destroying Thousands of Acres
Wildfires are a serious problem for Arizona. They can destroy thousands of acres of land and property. They can cause landslides, erosion and water quality degradation. They can also damage ecosystems and wildlife habitat.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management has implemented a number of methods to combat these fires. They include creating protection plans, outfitting owners with the equipment they need to protect their properties from wildfires and performing prescribed burns.
During a recent year, there have been 1,669 wildfires in the state, and 87% of them were human-caused. This has led to the state burning more than 700,000 acres this year, and it is the highest amount of land that has been burned in the past five years, according to the department.
However, despite the damage that wildfires have caused, they have many other benefits as well. They can improve habitat and recycle nutrients that support biodiverse ecosystems. They can also be helpful in reducing the risk of flooding and erosion, while improving plant and animal habitat.
As a result, many scientists are looking at how these wildfires affect the health of the landscape and its ecosystem. They are studying how a wildfire impacts plants and animals, what the long-term effects of a wildfire are on the environment, and the effect that these blazes can have on future generations.
One of the most notable Arizona fires that has occurred in the past is the Wallow Fire, which was the largest wildfire in state history. It destroyed 538,000 acres and surpassed the Rodeo-Chediski fire, which was considered one of the worst wildfires in the state’s history.
To date, the Wallow Fire has been treated with a variety of forest management tactics to reduce the size of the burn scar and promote natural regrowth, says Forest Service spokesman John Alexander. These include mechanical thinning, prescribed burns and salvage logging.
These methods can help decrease the amount of wildfires that occur, as they can help reduce the amount of tinder that is available for fires to start. They can also help to keep fires under control by preventing them from spreading into new areas.
Altering the Terrain
One of the most significant impacts wildfires can have on a region is a major shift in its terrain. For example, a fire can burn shrubs and grass and turn it into dry grassland. The resulting ecosystem changes can be either beneficial or detrimental to the area’s wildlife and other inhabitants.
A few of these ecological changes have already been documented by scientists, but there are still plenty of unanswered questions about the long-term effects of megafires on Arizona’s forests and wetlands. Scientists are using a range of technologies to study the impact of wildfires on plant life, water quality and overall forest health.
The biggest challenge is predicting how these changes will unfold, especially when the weather is as arid as it has been in Arizona this year. As it stands, the state is in the midst of its driest summer on record.
As the drought continues to worsen, more and more Arizonans will be faced with a landscape that is increasingly difficult to manage. That’s a problem not only for the people who live and work there but also for the environment. In the name of the big picture, we’ve compiled this list of some of the most interesting things you can do to mitigate the damage caused by these disasters.
Destroying Property
A fire-strengthened drought and a lack of rain have led to increased wildfires in Arizona and across the Southwest. They've prompted evacuations and closed popular lakes, national monuments, and communities in northern New Mexico and Arizona.
The Tunnel fire outside of Flagstaff is just one of several major blazes ripping through the state. The blaze started Monday in a forest outside the city and has grown into a large fire in a week. It's been fueled by high winds and dry conditions. Coconino County Manager David Horstman said the fire is burning "like a hot knife through butter," and he has asked for federal and state resources to help fight it.
Evacuations and fire-related closures have affected residents in northern Arizona as well as New Mexico, and officials are urging people to check the website of their local authorities for updates on evacuations, shelters, roads and other services available to them. They also encouraged people to keep their animals and livestock away from the flames. firescout
On Tuesday, the family of Lisa Wells in Flagstaff had to flee their home as flames reached it. She and her husband, Tom, packed up their animals, including two bulldogs, four horses and eight alpacas, and headed off to a shelter set up at a middle school.
It was a familiar scenario for the Wells family as they had evacuated their home earlier this month. This time they were able to take care of some things — a few medications, their pets and livestock — but they knew that the blaze would come closer.
This week, more than a dozen wildfires have ravaged large areas of northern Arizona and southern New Mexico. Some of them were triggered by lightning, but others appear to be a combination of wind and dry conditions.
While wildfires have a long history of destroying property, it's important to note that they can also be beneficial for wildlife. For example, when a fire burns in a protected area, it can help remove old growth trees and other vegetation that is harmful to native wildlife.
Destroying Livestock
As wildfires rage across the West, they're destroying important natural resources. They also threaten human lives. As a result, firefighters risk being killed and injured on the job.
One of the most effective ways to prevent these large, destructive fires is to reduce the amount of fuel they rely on. This is often done through cutting trees, establishing controlled ground fires and grazing.
While reducing the fuel for a fire is the first step in preventing it, it is not an easy or immediate solution. It takes years to regenerate the forests after a fire.
In addition to destroying natural resources, wildfires are damaging the livelihoods of livestock producers and their families. In fact, a recent study found that wildfires are the leading cause of lost income for ranchers in the Western United States.
Many animals, especially small mammals and birds, are unable to escape the smoke and heat of a wildfire and become severely burned. For example, porcupines that were found in a South Lake Tahoe neighborhood had extensive burns to their paws and fur.
The ash that forms after a wildfire can cause respiratory problems and is dangerous for humans to breathe. It can also damage facilities and equipment that livestock depend on to live healthy and safe.
Another concern for livestock and their owners is the loss of food and water that can be a consequence of a wildfire. Animals can lose access to the foods they need to survive, which can lead to severe dehydration.
To combat the damage, USDA offers a range of programs that can help with recovery after a wildfire. The Livestock Forage Disaster Program, for example, may provide a payment to compensate for lost grazing acres. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program can also provide an additional source of funding to offset losses in livestock production, transportation costs and feed for impacted farmers.
While reducing the risk of fire to livestock is the best way to help ensure their safety and health, it is not an easy or immediate solution. This is why it is so important to take steps to protect livestock and the natural resources around them before wildfires strike.
