How will these resources help you?

This topic has appeared in Geography specifications under ‘Natural Hazards’. However, as these resources will demonstrate, human activity such as arson, uncontrolled debris burns, campfires and engine sparks are the most common sources of ignition. That said, wildfires are certainly hazards for ecosystems, climate, and human settlements. Wildfires can have immediate and long-term effects on the quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, but also bring ecological benefit. The sharp rise in uncharacteristically large fires in recent years has been linked to climate change and human settlement in forested areas. These resources will allow teachers and students to make sense of the role of fires in ecosystem change and the devastating impacts they leave behind.