The difference between catastrophic wildfires and contained wildland fires

Throughout 2023, several countries encountered deadly fires which killed hundreds of people, displaced thousands of communities and demolished countless buildings. Some areas like Maui, Hawaii experienced their worst wildfire on record, while the effects of other fires, like those that occurred in Canada, were spread far, to places like New York. Wildfires are becoming more frequent and extreme, partially due to the effects of climate change, catalysing more extreme droughts and higher temperatures.

Since the outbreak of several fires earlier this month, at least 131 people have died in Chile. This death toll is expected to rise significantly as hundreds remain missing, especially in the Valparaíso Province. The Chilean President Gabriel Boric has described this event as a “tragedy of very great magnitude”, with the fire destroying thousands of homes and displacing countless more people. The combination of low humidity, major drought and high temperatures produced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation intensifies the severity of this wildfire. Although it has not been investigated thoroughly yet, the low level of precipitation perhaps contributed to the drying out of plants, providing continuous fuel for the fire to spread at a rapid rate, whilst heavy winds ensure the longevity of the event.

Could this new method of land management, along with modern technology, be implemented to aid the future of the environment?

According to scientists Juli Pausas and Jon Keeley, wildfires, or wildland fires, are “a globally important and integral part of many ecosystems, playing key roles in ecosystem dynamics and the retention of species that have evolved in response to fire”. From increasing pollination to extending the flowering periods of numerous plants, contained wildland fires have a surprisingly positive effect on natural landscapes. 

Despite the barren bleakness that usually inhabits images of post-fire environments, wildland fires promote floral and pollinator diversity, posing long-term benefits for the surrounding areas.

A Harvard University study has estimated that the current global pollination crisis has led to approximately 500,000 early deaths a year due to the reduction in the supply of healthy foods. Whilst fires do have a negative effect on ecosystems, they also have the ability to introduce a variety of pollinators and eradicate pests and parasites, a solution which could be explored to reinvent farming practices.

Prescribed burns also contribute to the prevention of disastrous naturally occurring wildfires. They remove the layer of dead organic material which inhabits a forest’s floor, simultaneously allowing sunlight to reach struggling plants beneath and eliminating a layer of fuel which a wildfire would use to quicken and intensify. This controlled manner of removing decaying organic matter reduces the risk of a more devastating and rapid wildfire.

After a year of wildfires which had detrimental impacts on communities across the world, and a climate that is increasing in temperature, most naturally-occurring wildfires cannot unfortunately be prevented. However, new modern technology like Artificial Intelligence remote sensors, can allow for the earlier detection of wildfires, aiding the specificity of evacuation notices and hopefully resulting in a decrease in deaths.

Wildland fires can be ecosystem services, once they are contained and attentively managed, combating agricultural issues and prolonging the survival of various species, preventing extinction. Through this differing perspective, these fires can be efficiently utilised to render long-term benefits for the planet.