8 Essential Tips to Escape from a Huge Wildfire

In simple terms, a wildfire can be understood as an uncontrollable fire that occurs in a massive area. Both natural and human factors contribute to the cause of widespread wildfires and it is always supported by the wind.

On this article, we provide a lot of information related to the wildfire and things you should know. If you are a novice to this topic, we suggest you read from the beginning to the end but if you already have some knowledge, feel free to use the below navigation menu. 

The general maximum speed in which a wildfire can spread is 14 mph (21 km/h). It causes mass destruction to properties, habitats, and lands and causes deaths. We can categorize wildfires into 3 different types, namely, Ground fires, Brush fires and Crown fires. In the US alone, the total number of wildfires spreading each year is over 10,000. It has become a major concern all over the globe.

Causes of Wildfire

To have a better understanding of wildfires and how to mitigate them, let us have a look at what causes wildfires.

Wildfires caused by human: Reckless and inconsiderate behaviors of humans are responsible for the spread of many wildfires. It can spread if people are careless while burning debris, making campfires, and also due to equipment failure or engine burn. Small fire from lit cigarettes, fireworks, and arson if not properly managed can also grow a wildfire.

Wildfires caused by natural factors: There is nothing men can do to mitigate wildfires caused by natural factors. Wildfires caused by natural factors like lightening and volcano eruption are the two most common examples.

Effects of Wildfire

Wildfires bring mass destruction to the land, environment, and human. Some of the major effects include:      

Loss of men, animals, trees, and habitat in large numbers.

Destruction of the soil which eventually leading to soil erosion. It also makes the land unsuitable for cultivation.

Creating toxic ash and smoke which pollute the environment thereby causing emergence of diseases.

Causing loss of water inside the wildfire area.

Damage to the economy including houses, roads, office buildings, and schools.

A Glimpse of Some of the Massive Wildfires

Siberian Taiga Fires in Russia (2003): According to sources, these massive wildfires are recorded to have burnt over 55 million acres of land and released a large amount of greenhouse gas.    

Black Friday Bushfire in Australia (1939): It is considered one of the worst bushfires in the world where 71 people lost their lives and almost 4,942,000 acres of land were burnt down.

Chinchaga fire in Canada (1950): Almost 4,200,000 acres of land were destroyed by this forest fire which is also referred to as the Wisp fire or the Chinchaga River fire. It produced large amounts of smoke leading to the 1950 Great Smoke Pall. 

Miramichi Fire in Canada (1825): This massive forest fire devastated communities and destroyed almost 16,000 km² of land which is about 1/5 of New Brunswick’s forests.

Great Fire in U.S.A. (1910): Also known by different names like the Big Blowup and the Devil’s Broom fire, this wildfire burnt about 3 million acres of land and killed 87 people most of whom were firefighters.

8 essential tips to escape from a huge wildfire 

Here are 8 essential tips to escape from a huge wildfire:

Stay calm: Do not panic or else the situation will worsen. As far as possible, try to stay calm in order to find a way. If you become ruffled up, you will make a mess out of everything and it will be more difficult to take an intelligent decision or take measures to escape or mitigate the fire during the sudden emergency. You may even lose your life.

Cover your nose with wet cloth: Find some means to protect your respiratory system lest it gets choked and your die. You can use a wet cloth to cover your nose if it is available around the corner. Inhaling the toxic smoke created by the wildfire can also cause diseases like asthma and other respiratory diseases in the future.

Run downhill: Always run downhill to escape from the fire. Flames usually tend to go uphill when they ignite and you can also run faster to a safer place when you go downhill.

Choose less flammable materials: To maintain a safe working environment, choose the routines with less flammable materials. Avoid those materials which are highly inflammable especially if you are trying to mitigate the fire. Do not risk your life.

Wet your body with water: Find and splash water on your body to wet it if it is available nearby. This act will protect your body from getting burnt from the scorching heat. Also, your wet body is less likely to catch fire than if your body is dry. 

Take shelter underground: If escaping or running out of wildfire becomes impossible, find a place to take cover and hide until the fire is completely over. Taking shelter in places like caves, underground holes, and moats is safer than staying over ground. You can also dig a hole on the ground if you can’t find one. It will protect you from the roasting heat. And most probably the fire will graze over but won’t find its way into dug pits and hollows of the caves.

Move against the direction of wind: When the wildfire is over, check the direction of the wind carefully to ascertain in which direction the wind is blowing. At all times, you should move against the direction of the wind since there are chances of the wind igniting the fire again any time.

Seek emergency help: Find some emergency help around. Try to contact your local Red Cross, visit the nearest pharmacy in case of injuries, or ring up your area’s emergency help number. Also, try to listen to the latest local news in your radio or television that will keep you updated on the wildfire information and be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

Conclusion

Wildfires are highly destructive by nature. It causes great loss to the economy and environment and also takes away many lives. Always be careful even when you are dealing with a small fire because your negligence may lead to the cause of a widespread wildfire. Take care to fully snub out the lit cigarette before throwing it away and never leave the fire in a camping site unattended. In case of wildfire breakouts, try to stay as calm as possible to find measures to mitigate the fire and make an escape. And remember, you are not alone. Try to contact emergency numbers, locate your local Red Cross in case of injuries, and keep yourself updated by listening to the latest local news. Also, be ready to evacuate.