Wildfire or Forest fire

A wildfire or wild land fire is a fire in an area of combustible vegetation that occurs in
the countryside or rural area. Depending on the type of vegetation where it occurs, a
wildfire can also be classified more specifically as a brush fire, bush fire, desert fire,
forest fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Fossil charcoal
indicates that wildfires began soon after the appearance of terrestrial plants 420 million
years ago. Wildfire’s occurrence throughout the history of terrestrial life invites
conjecture that fire must have had pronounced evolutionary effects on most
ecosystems' flora and fauna. Earth is an intrinsically flammable planet owing to its
cover of carbon-rich vegetation, seasonally dry climates, atmospheric oxygen, and
widespread lightning and volcano ignitions

A wildfire is simply an uncontrolled fire that is wiping out large fields and areas of land.
It is typically fires that started out of a lightning strike, or people carelessly starting it, or
accidentally, or even arson, that went unnoticed and got out of hand. These fires
sometimes burn for days and weeks. They can wipe out an entire forest and destroy
almost every organic matter in it.

Wild fires can also be termed forest fires, grass fires, peat fires and bush fires
depending on type of vegetation being burnt. Note that these fires tend to thrive in very
warm and dry climates, rather than the thick, moist rainforest types.

Forest fire – what do I do?

Alert the fire service – dial the emergency number

Tell them who you are and how you can be contacted. Explain where the fire is burning
as accurately as possible. If appropriate, you can meet the fire brigade and show them
the way to the fire location.

Start extinguishing the fire, if possible

You can make an effective tool by chopping down a small tree, about two metres tall.
Remove branches from the bottom up until just a tuft remains at the top. Use the tree
like a broom and sweep the flames back into the fire area. This is very effective on
burning organic matter. It is important that you do not beat the flames. It is less
effective and in the worst case; it can cause the flames to flare up. You can also use
sand or blankets to suffocate the flames. If you have access to water close to the fire
area, both garden hoses, watering cans and buckets can help do the job.

Spread out fire fighting efforts along the flanks of the fire. Force the flames down to a
single point until the fire goes out.
Make sure to keep watch and ensure adequate post-extinguishing

During a forest fire, the fire can burn in soil, tree stumps, ant-hills and other organic
material. Even if the fire appears to be out, the wind can cause it to flare up again.
Therefore, it is important that the area is monitored and post-extinguishing work must
be done. Pay particular attention if wind is forecast or expected to increase in force.

Extinguishing forest fires is dangerous work

Be extremely careful and never take chances! Do not remain in locations where there
is a risk that flames could surround you.

3.2.8 Fire Situation in the Philippines

By Manuel L. Pogeyed Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Introduction

In the Philippines, about 5.49 million ha or roughly 18 percent of the total land area are
still covered with forests. The remaining old growth, or primary dipterocarp forests,
comprises only about 0.804 million ha, far from the 12 million ha of old-growth forest
that existed 55 years ago (Igsoc 1999). A close look at the causes of this reduction
indicates that the major factors of denudation are kaingin, or shifting cultivation, forest
fires, illegal occupancy, conversion to other uses, clearing in the process of logging,
pests and diseases. Fire is obviously a very serious problem that threatens the few
remaining forests of the country. Humans have caused most of the reported forest
fires, either intentionally for economic gains such a kaingin, charcoal production, etc.,
or unintentionally through negligence or carelessness.

The major forest vegetation types of the Philippines include:

• Dipterocarp forest at 0-800 meters above sea level (m. s. l.).

• Mangrove and beach type forests (within the coastlines).

• Molave forest (premium hardwood at 0-800 m. s. l.).

• Pine forest (800-2 000 m. s. l.).

• Mossy forest (Lithocarpus and Podocarpusspecies at the higher fringes).

Four climatic zones are distinguished in the country by distribution of precipitation:

• Six months dry and six months wet.

• No definite dry season, wet from November to January.

• Dry from November to April, wet during the rest of the year.

• Rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year.

Southeast Asia is periodically affected by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

phenomenon that induces prolonged dry or wet seasons. If a prolonged drought
occurs, the aforementioned forest vegetation types are prone to disturbance by
wildfires, except for mangrove and beach type forests.

Prior to massive land-use changes (1960s-1970s) in the different forest vegetation

types, fire protection efforts were concentrated in the pine forests, predominantly
in Pinus kesiya and Pinus merkusiistands. These pine forests are still the most fire-
prone forest ecosystems in the Philippines, although grasslands, plantations and
agricultural areas are also vulnerable and at high risk for wildfires that threaten
adjacent forests.

During the drought of 1983, the first large fire was experienced in the dipterocarp
rainforest in the southern part of the country (Mindanao). The massive build-up of
understorey fuels, coupled with drought and the presence of a large number of ignition
sources resulted in an unprecedented fire situation in the Philippines and Southeast
Asia. The major factors that contributed to the abnormal situation in the Southeast
Asian rainforest were:

• Land-use changes brought about by forest resource exploitation

• Agricultural expansion due to the survival needs of an ever-increasing population

• Erratic climatic changes with prolonged droughts.

The montane “mossy forest” stretching above the pine forest belt is not usually prone
to fire. Regular burning of the pine forests in the lower slopes is slowly reducing the
mossy forest area at its edges, causing the intrusion of pine and grassland vegetation.
This situation threatens the valuable mossy forest with its biodiversity-rich vegetation,
which is high in medicinal, scientific and ecological values. This type of forest is an
important habitat of migrating birds from mainland Asia.
The indigenous pine forest on the island of Luzón is a fire climax forest due to its long
history of regular fire influence. Evidence is given by dendrochronological analyses (fire
scars in tree stems) and by reports of villagers on large fire events in the hinterlands of
the Cordillera mountain range in the northern part of Luzon Island. According to these
reports, fires could burn whole villages when houses were made with thatched grass
roofs. In 1975, a sawmill and its surrounding residential houses were burned when
crown fires occurred on the steep slopes of the nearby pine forest. This happened
again in the same spot in 1987. In 1981, two firefighters were killed when they were
trapped in the rugged terrain of a watershed. During the drought of 1983, a vehicle was
burned while at a fire scene.

Large fires in the pine forest often burn for weeks and are difficult to control due to the
rugged mountainous terrain, lack of appropriate equipment and the unavailability of
trained manpower. Large fires in different parts of the country, along with other
neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, contributed significantly to the smoke-haze in
Asia, especially during the drought of 1997-1998. Fire data for the 1990s in different
regions of the country are shown in Table 3-6.

Fire management organizations

Operational experiences in fire protection and management are more specialized

within the pine forest area and forestry projects where external assistance has been
provided. In the 1970s and 1980s, a fire control council for the pine forest area existed
whereby all involved organizations (government agencies, local government, industries
and private sector) were being coordinated by the Bureau of Forest Development. The
reorganization of the operations of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), which included the Bureau, resulted in the council’s
discontinuance. Fire protection was relegated to the regular operations of the DENR’s
field units.

A technical cooperation project, which focused on basic fire research and provided a
fire management operational force within the Cordillera Administrative Region, was
implemented with FAO assistance from 1987-1990.

With the shift of DENR’s operations in the 1990s, the regular forest protection units of
DENR have to contend with meagre government funds and limited personnel. While
the communities in the field were enjoined to help in fire protection, operational
facilities and large fire organization needs cannot be met, which in some aspects
discourages volunteerism.
In the case of industries, they maintained their own organizational capabilities and on
several occasions the DENR provided training at their request. The decentralization of
power to the local governments has also fostered innovation in isolated cases,
depending on priorities. In Mountain Province, a fire prevention incentive mechanism
was implemented with the political leadership (concept published with IFFN in 1997) for
a short period.

The large fires that occurred during the 1997-1998 drought highlighted the need for a
national fire organization. The Armed Forces were involved in the suppression activities
that led to the declaration of forest fires as a national disaster. At present, a national
coordination and operational capability is still needed in case of a drought where
wildfires are expected. Research activities to improve capability and draw up a national
programme are needed in the following areas:

• An appropriate fire danger rating system in various forest vegetation types.

• Fuel assessment at various locations and forest vegetation types.

• Development of appropriate technologies.

• Impact assessments.

• Development of burning prescription guidelines.

Prescribed burning

The use of prescribed burning as a management tool has been in use in various areas
in the country, although policy guidelines for such actions have not been provided. This
is most common in the areas such as:

• Pasture areas to induce forage.

• Fuel reduction (pine forest).

• Natural regeneration (pine forest).

• Debris burning in farm lots especially within forest and nearby communities.

In most forestry projects implemented by the government, hazard and risk reduction
are conducted as an integral part of the activity. However, these are not being
monitored and studied for proper technology improvement.

Public policies
The forestry policy in the Philippines is outdated with a bill on sustainable forest
management yet to be passed by Congress. The discouragement of private ownership
of forest resources puts pressure on government agencies with the responsibility for
fire protection.

CONSEQUENCES OF FOREST FIRES

An uncontrolled forest fire can devastate everything in its path, spread for miles,
crossing rivers and roads. Each year, between60,000 and 80,000 forest fires occur,
destroying between 3 and 10 million hectares. While forest fires have different impacts
on the environment, depending on their size and frequency, the causes are also
diverse.

Causes increasingly linked to human activities

A few hundred years ago, forest fires were a natural “activity”caused mostly by rare
phenomena, such as a volcanic eruption or an earthquake, that occur in very specific
geographical areas. Therefore, it is not them, but lightning, that is the main cause of
the departure of forest fires from natural sources. For example, it accounts for about
2% of fires in the Mediterranean zone… and close to 30% in Quebec ! In Spain, 5% of
fires are due to natural causes, especially in dry, hot places. In some parts of the
country (Aragon, Pyrenean chains, etc.), thunderstorms and lightning, in the absence
of rain, are responsible for 25% of forest fire departures. Other exceptional
circumstances and very unusual phenomena, such as the collision of two silicious
rocks producing a spark, may also have a (minimal) impact on fires. Fires of natural
origin are often quickly channeled since they usually have only one outbreak.

But today, natural causes are much less frequent and now give place to human
activities,whether voluntary or not :

43% of forest fires caused by humans are linked toimprudences (cigarettebutts,

garbage deposits, burning). They can also occur as a result of surges, damage to
power lines ormilitary accidents as happened in 2016 and 2017 at Captieux military
camp in Gironde (caused by military fire, destroying 1300 hectares of pines) or at Le
Mans military camp in April 2017. Finally, recklessness is often linked to recreational
activities, agricultural or forestry work (55% of fires)

25% of forest fires caused by humans are caused by pyromaniacs, revenge or political
or administrative strategy.
The remainder being classified of unknown origin… Thus, since 1973, more than 1.1
million hectares burned in France.

Fauna and flora upset by forest fires

When the frequency of forest fires in a given area is high, the consequences can be
devastating. If some specialists consider fire to be a windfall for the ecosystem
(elimination of diseased plants and plants, increased plant and animal diversity, etc.),
we must not forget that the natural cycles of forests are disturbed and that some
species disappear, while invasive plants proliferate.Forest fires increase carbon dioxide
levels in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change. In
addition, ashes destroy much of the nutrients and erode the soil, causing flooding and
landslides.

The use of chemicals in firefighting adds an additional problem to the already dramatic
consequences of forest fires. According to a recent study by the Supreme Council for
Scientific Research (CSIC), chemicals contained in “flame retardants” used to
extinguish fires (such as Fire-Trol) accumulate in the soil for years. The findings of the
study highlight the presence ofammonium polyphosphate, known to alter soil fertility,
biodiversity and affect the composition of vegetation. The OMPE is currently
studyingSEURFF : System of Extinction Ultra Rapids of Forest fires.
 Program for Classroom Celebration
(G12 ABM C, October 01, 2019)

I. PRAYER
(LOIZE ANTONETTE CLARETE)
II. OPENING REMARKS
(JEWELLE REYES, PRESIDENT)
III. INTERMISSION
 SONG
 (DOMINIC BAOD, DAN JAMES DINGLASAN, VINCE MARANAN, JERICO
DELAVIN, MJAY MAGNAYE)
 DANCE
 (ANGELA HERNANDEZ, DIANNA LOWELL MAGBOJOS, LOIZE CLARETE,
JEMAEATIBULA)
IV. MESSAGES
(CLASSROOM OFFICERS)
VIDEO PRESENTATION
V. GAMES
 COPYCAT
 PINOY HENYO
VI. PRESENTATION OF GIFT
(SHAIRENE DIMACULANGAN)
VII. MESSAGE OF THE TEACHER
VIII. CLOSING REMARKS
(JEWELLE REYES, PRESIDENT)

MASTER OF THE CEREMONY:

LOIZE ANTONETTE CLARETE
ANGELA HERNANDEZ