What are Wildfires?

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#wildfire #bushfire #ngscience #weather #extremeweather

Wildfires are a natural occurrence that can be a destructive, powerful force that is difficult to control. They can be dangerous because the fire can spread quickly and unpredictably. Wildfires can be difficult to stop because of the dry conditions, the abundance of combustible materials, and the presence of strong winds.

There are many factors that can cause wildfires, including lightning, power lines, arson, cigarettes, campfires, gas lines, and sparks from cars. The most common reason for fires is arson.

How are wildfires categorized?
Wildfires are categorized by the classification system that the U.S. Forest Service uses to monitor fires. Fires are monitored at different levels based on how much damage they cause and how serious they are.

What is the difference between a wildfire and a brush fire?
A brush fire is a small-scale fire that burns in an area of ground vegetation, usually in dry conditions. A wildfire is a large-scale fire that burns in the forest or rural areas in high-intensity conditions.

Extreme Weather
The weather can be different in many ways. One day it may be warm and sunny. The next day it may be rainy or windy. Occasionally, there may be thunderstorms. During a thunderstorm there are often strong winds, heavy rain and lightning. Thunderstorms are an example of extreme weather. Other extreme weather events include hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and blizzards.

A hurricane rotating storm that forms over the ocean and moves onto land. Hurricanes have very strong winds and precipitation. Hurricanes often include a series of thunderstorms. The heaving precipitation and large coastal waves can also causes floods.

A tornado is a rotating column of air that occurs on land, often during a thunderstorm. There are very strong winds. Due to the strong upward movement of air during a tornado, there is little or no rain. However, there may be large hail.

A blizzard, also called a snow storm, is a cold winter storm with heavy snow, sleet and strong winds. Snow may completely cover roads and buildings.

Extreme weather can be dangerous to people and cause damage to property. Engineers and architects often design buildings and structures to protect people against severe weather.