Forest fire information

As deadly wildfires continue to rage across Northern California’s wine country, with winds picking up speed overnight and worsening conditions to now include a combined 54,000 acres of torched land, it now seems more important than ever to understand how wildfires work, and their lasting implications on our health and the environment. How a Wildfire Starts Though the exact source of Sonoma County’s wildfires is unclear, authorities have pointed to the fact that 95 percent of fires in the state of California are started by people, according to CNN. Meteorologists aren’t yet able to forecast wildfire outbreaks, but there are three conditions that must be present in order for a wildfire to burn. Firefighters refer to it as the fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Four out of five wildfires are started by people, but dry weather, drought, and strong winds can create a recipe for the perfect disaster—which can transform a spark into a weeks- or months-long blaze that consumes tens of thousands of acres. Another possible cause of forest fires is lightning. Scientists have found that every degree of global warming sets off a 12 percent bump in lightning activity. Since 1975 the number of fires ignited by lightning has increased between two and five percent. A Tricky Relationship Historically, wildfires are actually supposed to be beneficial to certain natural landscapes, clearing underbrush in forests and triggering the release of seeds in some plant species, such as t...

FOREST FIRE Current forest fires – see where there is a forest fire right now! Natural disasters have always been a great danger for people and animals. Forest fires are probably one of the most frequent and dangerous threats to life on our planet. But not only nature is responsible for the enormous destruction of forests and land. Here you can find out everything about forest fires. You want to know where a forest fire is active at the moment? Then take a look at our live map in the overview. Here you can see current forest fires and fire hot spots at a glance! Where are forest fires? Is there a wildfire right now? The wildfire map explained: With the forest fire map you can see all forest fires in the near past and current forest fires an overview. On the left side of the map you will find the legend explaining the different symbols. The map shows you fire activities registered by satellites and thermal hotspots. The meaning of the displayed symbols on the map can be found in the legend index. You can also find a short overview here: The red fire icon shows you the size of burned areas (in acres) in the US. The larger the fire symbol, the larger the area burned. There is currently no active wildfire here. The gold fire icon indicates where a confined fire is located. The points with the yellow-red fire icon show active wildfires in the last 24 hours Multiple wildfires in the same area are shown to you with the purple fire icon The red dots with yellow outlines show you t...

FOREST FIRE Current forest fires – see where there is a forest fire right now! Natural disasters have always been a great danger for people and animals. Forest fires are probably one of the most frequent and dangerous threats to life on our planet. But not only nature is responsible for the enormous destruction of forests and land. Here you can find out everything about forest fires. You want to know where a forest fire is active at the moment? Then take a look at our live map in the overview. Here you can see current forest fires and fire hot spots at a glance! Where are forest fires? Is there a wildfire right now? The wildfire map explained: With the forest fire map you can see all forest fires in the near past and current forest fires an overview. On the left side of the map you will find the legend explaining the different symbols. The map shows you fire activities registered by satellites and thermal hotspots. The meaning of the displayed symbols on the map can be found in the legend index. You can also find a short overview here: The red fire icon shows you the size of burned areas (in acres) in the US. The larger the fire symbol, the larger the area burned. There is currently no active wildfire here. The gold fire icon indicates where a confined fire is located. The points with the yellow-red fire icon show active wildfires in the last 24 hours Multiple wildfires in the same area are shown to you with the purple fire icon The red dots with yellow outlines show you t...

As deadly wildfires continue to rage across Northern California’s wine country, with winds picking up speed overnight and worsening conditions to now include a combined 54,000 acres of torched land, it now seems more important than ever to understand how wildfires work, and their lasting implications on our health and the environment. How a Wildfire Starts Though the exact source of Sonoma County’s wildfires is unclear, authorities have pointed to the fact that 95 percent of fires in the state of California are started by people, according to CNN. Meteorologists aren’t yet able to forecast wildfire outbreaks, but there are three conditions that must be present in order for a wildfire to burn. Firefighters refer to it as the fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Four out of five wildfires are started by people, but dry weather, drought, and strong winds can create a recipe for the perfect disaster—which can transform a spark into a weeks- or months-long blaze that consumes tens of thousands of acres. Another possible cause of forest fires is lightning. Scientists have found that every degree of global warming sets off a 12 percent bump in lightning activity. Since 1975 the number of fires ignited by lightning has increased between two and five percent. A Tricky Relationship Historically, wildfires are actually supposed to be beneficial to certain natural landscapes, clearing underbrush in forests and triggering the release of seeds in some plant species, such as t...

As deadly wildfires continue to rage across Northern California’s wine country, with winds picking up speed overnight and worsening conditions to now include a combined 54,000 acres of torched land, it now seems more important than ever to understand how wildfires work, and their lasting implications on our health and the environment. How a Wildfire Starts Though the exact source of Sonoma County’s wildfires is unclear, authorities have pointed to the fact that 95 percent of fires in the state of California are started by people, according to CNN. Meteorologists aren’t yet able to forecast wildfire outbreaks, but there are three conditions that must be present in order for a wildfire to burn. Firefighters refer to it as the fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Four out of five wildfires are started by people, but dry weather, drought, and strong winds can create a recipe for the perfect disaster—which can transform a spark into a weeks- or months-long blaze that consumes tens of thousands of acres. Another possible cause of forest fires is lightning. Scientists have found that every degree of global warming sets off a 12 percent bump in lightning activity. Since 1975 the number of fires ignited by lightning has increased between two and five percent. A Tricky Relationship Historically, wildfires are actually supposed to be beneficial to certain natural landscapes, clearing underbrush in forests and triggering the release of seeds in some plant species, such as t...

FOREST FIRE Current forest fires – see where there is a forest fire right now! Natural disasters have always been a great danger for people and animals. Forest fires are probably one of the most frequent and dangerous threats to life on our planet. But not only nature is responsible for the enormous destruction of forests and land. Here you can find out everything about forest fires. You want to know where a forest fire is active at the moment? Then take a look at our live map in the overview. Here you can see current forest fires and fire hot spots at a glance! Where are forest fires? Is there a wildfire right now? The wildfire map explained: With the forest fire map you can see all forest fires in the near past and current forest fires an overview. On the left side of the map you will find the legend explaining the different symbols. The map shows you fire activities registered by satellites and thermal hotspots. The meaning of the displayed symbols on the map can be found in the legend index. You can also find a short overview here: The red fire icon shows you the size of burned areas (in acres) in the US. The larger the fire symbol, the larger the area burned. There is currently no active wildfire here. The gold fire icon indicates where a confined fire is located. The points with the yellow-red fire icon show active wildfires in the last 24 hours Multiple wildfires in the same area are shown to you with the purple fire icon The red dots with yellow outlines show you t...