Georgia Wildfires 2007

1. Georgia Wildfires 2007 Power point by Keith WallPearson, Georgia(Retired Ag. Teacher, Ware Co.)

3. A wildfire, also known as a wildland fire, forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, peat fire, bushfire or hill fire, is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in wildland areas, but which can also consume houses or agricultural resources. Note: The following pictures are from fires in Ware Co., Ga.

5. Common causes include lightning, human carelessness, arson, volcano eruption, and pyroclastic cloud from active volcano. Heat waves, droughts, and cyclical climate changes such as El Niño can also have a dramatic effect on the risk of wildfires.

6. The Sweat Farm Road Fire in Ware Co. was caused by a downed powerline.

8. Wildfires tend to be most common and severe during years of drought and occur on days of strong winds.

11. To Date = May 7, 2007

20. Staging area at Ware Co. High

24. The evaporation of water in plants are balanced by water absorbed from the soil. Below this threshold, the plants dry out and under stress release the flammable gas ethylene. A consequence of a long hot and dry period is therefore that the air contains flammable essences and plants are drier and highly flammable.

26. The propagation of the fire has three mechanisms: • "crawling" fire: the fire spreads via low level vegetation (bushes) • "crown" fire: a fire that "crowns" (spreads to the top branches of trees) • "jumping" or "spotting" fire: burning branches and leaves are carried by the wind and start distant fires

27. “Crawling Fire”

28. “Crown Fire”

29. “Jumping Fire”

30. To control the fire,firefightersused:

31. Fire trucks

37. Bulldozers

40. Bulldozers created a wide firebreak on 4/22/07

41. Helicopters

46. Airplanes

49. CSX Railyard