Geography A-level-- Fires in Nature: Risk Management

Four key conditions that favour intense wildfires

Vegetation type, fuel characteristics, climate and recent weather, fire behaviour.

Definition of the fire triangle

A model showing that fire requires heat, fuel, and oxygen.

Most common natural causes of wildfires

Lightning strikes

Two main categories of wildfire ignition

Natural agency and human agency

Example of human causes of wildfires

Planned burns escaping control, power line sparks, unattended campfires, machinery faults, arson

Three types of wildfire behaviour

Surface fires, crown fires, ground/subsurface fires

Primary impacts of wildfires (+examples)

1. Loss of life (Victoria [Australia, 2009] bushfires, 173 people lost their lives)

2. Injuries

3. Smoke inhalation

4. Loss/Destruction of property (Sydney and Los Angeles — low-density buildings on the fringes, where natural vegetation remains between properties, expose a large risk)

5. Immediate air pollution from the release of toxic gases and particulates (Southeast Asia ‘haze’ is fire-related large-scale air pollution that occurs regularly, and the pollution covers Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam)

6. Loss of wildlife (Indonesia [1997] destroyed the Wein River orangutan sanctuary on Kalimantan)

7. Loss of crops, timber and livestock (USA, estimated over $10 million per day is spent fighting fires that have a huge impact on timber-producing areas)

8. Damage to soil structure & nutrient content.

Secondary impacts of wildfires

1. Homelessness

2. Soil erosion

3. Landslides

4. Loss of income

5. Long‑term ecosystem disruption

6. Increased flood risk (due to loss of vegetation = less interception to handle large burst of precipitation)

7. Evacuation (& not allowed back for long period)

SEP framework for wildfire impacts

Social, Economic, Environmental, Political

Short-term wildfire responses

Evacuation, aerial water/retardant drops, ground‑level firefighting, creating firebreaks

Long-term wildfire responses

Rebuilding homes and infrastructure, restoring services, improving resilience

Hazard Management Cycle stages

Mitigation, preparedness, response, recover

Examples of wildfire mitigation

Clearing vegetation around homes, controlled burns, fire‑resistant building design

Purpose of hazard mapping

Identifying relative wildfire risk to guide land‑use planning and development

Stages of the Park Model

Pre‑disaster, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction

Key weakness of the Park Model

Does not easily show differences in development or resilience between places

Definition of pyrophytes

Plants adapted to tolerate or require fire for reproduction (e.g., baobab, banksia)

Why soil erosion is a secondary impact

Loss of vegetation removes root structures that stabilise soil

Why wind increases wildfire intensity

It supplies oxygen and carries embers, spreading fire rapidly

Why drought increases wildfire risk

It dries vegetation, making fuel more flammable

Example of subsurface fire behaviour

Siberian peat fires smouldering through winter and reigniting

Why eucalyptus forests burn intensely

They contain flammable oils and dense canopy structures

Why firebreaks are used

To remove fuel and slow or stop fire spread

Why wildfire impacts vary between countries

Differences in development, preparedness, governance, and resilience

Example of a recent wildfire case study

Black Saturday bushfires, Victoria, Australia

Why urban sprawl increases wildfire risk

More homes are built in forested areas, increasing exposure

Key exam requirement for AQA wildfires

Detailed knowledge of one recent wildfire event’s impacts and responses

Meaning of 'build back better' after wildfires

Reconstruction that improves resilience and reduces future risk

Why hazard mapping is increasingly important

Climate change is expanding areas at risk of wildfire

What 'to what extent' requires in A‑level essays

Balanced argument, clear judgement, and evaluation supported by case studies

Nature of surface fires

Sweep rapidly over the ground. Consume plant litter, grasses and herbs, and scorching trees. Ground temperatures to rise over 1000 degrees Celsius.

What are crown fires?

Fires that spread at higher levels through the canopy of trees.

How does climate influence the ignition source of wildfires?

Climate will affect the frequency of electrical storms, particularly one in which there is hardly any rainfall.

How does climate affect the fuel for a wildfire? (2 answers)

1. Affects the frequency and duration of droughts during which the vegetation and litter has an opportunity to accumulate and dry out.

2. Also affects the type of vegetation that will grow in an area and the rate at which litter can be produced.

The nature of areas most likely to be affected by wildfires.

Areas with a dry season, or regions with a semi-arid climate and susceptible to drought.

Examples of areas in the world most likely to have wildfires (3 answers)

1. parts of Australia

2. USA and Canada — including California and Florida

3. Southern Europe — including southern France, Italy, Greece , Turkey, and Mediterranean islands (e.g Siciliy, Cyprus, Corsica, and Sardinia)

Positive impact of wildfires on nature.

Fires can clear vegetation and aid new seed germination, stimulate growth of certain plants and rid an area of insects and some parasites.

Pre-disaster management (7)

1. Managing the vegetation (controlled burning to rid litter + create firebreaks in advance)

2. Managing the built environment (increase gaps between buildings + fire resistant materials like more stone and brick, fitting spark arresters to chimneys)

3. Modelling (Study fire behaviour with computer simulations in order to predict in future. E.g. a fire propagation model.)

4. Education (raise awareness regarding home safety and avoiding starting fires)

5. Warning systems (Lookout towers. Air patrols. Tourist areas with notice boards at strategic locations to carry warnings)

6. Community action (E.g. Victoria, Australia ‘Community Fireguard’ — Residents developed own fire survival techniques, warning systems, ensuring buffer zones maintained, conducting brush and street cleanups, running equipment training sessions and preparing emergency plans)

7. Being well insured (wealthier countries urge residents to take out insurance against fire damage, although very expensive in fire prone areas)

Addressing the effects.

1. Replanting —commercial forestry areas devastated by fires to improve economy.

2. Replanting — Stabilise slopes (prevent flash flooding, mudslides on unprotected slopes) and improve water quality.

3. Preparedness — done by giving out emergency supplies, survival kits, and by setting up community groups (e.g. that in Victoria [Australia])