Wildfires as a Growing Disaster Risk

Understanding Wildfires

Wildfires as a Growing Disaster Risk: Wildfires refer to unplanned and uncontrolled vegetation fires that spread rapidly across forests, grasslands, or scrub areas. They may arise from natural causes or human actions and often require immediate suppression measures.
Static GK fact: The Food and Agriculture Organization defines wildfires as vegetation fires that negatively affect social, economic, or environmental values.

Despite their destructive image, wildfires also play a natural ecological role. They recycle nutrients, maintain soil fertility, and support regeneration of fire-adapted plant species. However, the scale and intensity of recent fires have far exceeded ecological thresholds.

Scale of the Global Risk

According to the 2025 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, global wildfires resulted in economic losses of nearly USD 106 billion. These losses include damage to infrastructure, agriculture, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

Wildfires are no longer seasonal or localized events. They have evolved into a systemic disaster risk, affecting food security, air quality, and climate stability across regions.

Environmental Impacts

Wildfires release massive quantities of carbon dioxide, especially when they occur in peatlands and tropical rainforests. This accelerates global warming and weakens natural carbon sinks.
Static GK fact: Peatlands store more carbon than all the world’s forests combined, making fires in these regions particularly damaging.

A dangerous climate feedback loop is created where rising temperatures increase fire frequency, and fires further intensify warming. Additionally, large-scale fires lead to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, threatening endemic and endangered species.

Human and Social Consequences

Smoke from wildfires significantly degrades air quality, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly face the highest health risks.

Wildfires also trigger forced displacement of communities, disrupt livelihoods dependent on forests, and strain disaster response systems. In rural and tribal areas, repeated fires deepen poverty and social vulnerability.

Why Wildfires Are Increasing

Climate change has intensified heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and dry lightning events. These conditions extend fire seasons and increase fire intensity.

Land-use changes such as deforestation, monoculture plantations, and drainage of wetlands reduce landscape resilience.
Static GK Tip: Monoculture plantations burn faster than mixed forests due to uniform fuel structure.

Human activities like agricultural burning and land clearing remain a major ignition source. When combined with extreme weather, small fires can quickly escalate into uncontrollable wildfires.

High fuel availability, including dry grasses, shrubs, and leaf litter, allows fires to spread rapidly and reduces the effectiveness of suppression efforts.

India’s Institutional Response

India has adopted a preventive and technology-driven approach to wildfire management. The National Action Plan on Forest Fires focuses on early detection, capacity building, and community involvement.

The Forest Fire Alert System provides near real-time fire alerts using satellite data, enabling faster response. The Van Agni geo-portal acts as a centralized platform for forest fire information.

Community participation is strengthened through Joint Forest Management Committees and Eco-Development Committees, integrating local knowledge into fire prevention strategies.

Way Forward

Wildfires must be addressed as a multi-dimensional disaster risk, not merely an environmental issue. Integrating climate adaptation, land-use planning, and community-based prevention is essential for long-term resilience.

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Wildfires as a Growing Disaster Risk: