Although some may think this is a problem far removed from humans, unfortunately, it is far from it. Wildfires are caused by humans in at least 99% of cases. And the rest? That 1%, known as natural causes, usually refers to isolated events such as lightning strikes in drought-stricken Andean areas.
We might assume, then, that knowing these high figures has driven a change in our society and that, at least in recent years, they have decreased. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Each season is stronger and more powerful than the last, which has led to our country facing an imminent wildfire danger for at least 8 months of the year.
Why is it Important to Prevent Them?
When a wildfire breaks out, everything changes. Literally. These increasingly extensive, voracious, and destructive disasters cause irreversible damage to our environment. Some impacts are visible—such as the destruction of our forests and wildlife—while others are harder to notice, such as the release of massive amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, the loss of fertile soil, the advance of erosion, and the disruption of the hydrological cycle, among others.
In Chile, 2017 saw the most destructive wildfire in our national history. Six regions in the center and south of the country (between Coquimbo and Biobío) were affected by multiple wildfires that consumed more than 596,000 hectares. This figure placed us 7th in the global ranking of historical mega-wildfires. It is estimated that a total of 185 native flora and fauna species were affected; 15,759 hectares of native forest were burned, 1,139 people had to be sheltered, 3,084 were left victims, and 1,047 homes were destroyed. There were 13 fatalities.
In the rest of the world, the figures are just as alarming, if not more so. In addition to the aforementioned consequences, such as massive biodiversity loss, there are damages that are irreparable and affect not just one country, but the entire world. A prime example is the 2019 Australian wildfire. Due to its smoke, experts recently reported that a hole was created in the ozone layer.
‘Researchers state that in the stratosphere—which begins about 10 kilometers high and ends at 50 kilometers—the smoke has affected the air across an area stretching thousands of kilometers and has also blocked sunlight on a “planetary scale,” replicating the effects of a volcanic eruption,’ reports the newspaper La Tercera.
The fires in California, United States, are another major case. Following weeks of fires that devastated more than two million hectares and caused 27 deaths on the West Coast, satellite observations revealed high-altitude carbon monoxide concentrations more than 10 times the usual levels. This gas can persist in the atmosphere for about a month and be transported over long distances.
What Should We Do?
Our invitation, as it is every year, is for us to become guardians of our forests and mindful of our actions. Even though most wildfires are human-caused, they are not always intentional; they can stem from a simple moment of carelessness.
During these times, when temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F), those small actions can end up costing us our forests, our wildlife, our planet. Therefore, we invite you to change this reality and ensure the only thing that spreads is prevention.
Do not smoke in areas with vegetation prone to burning.
Never throw cigarette butts or matches on the ground.
Do not light campfires in unauthorized areas.
Pick up the trash you generate.
If you spot any suspicious behavior, call CONAF at 130 to report it.
And you can also join in repairing the damage caused! How? By planting a tree through our reforestation projects. We do this because healthy ecosystems form the foundation of a sustainable world, and because it is our way of leaving the world better than we found it. Click here to plant a tree.