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Introduction
In the modern times, natural catastrophes have been one of the major reasons for the destruction of the global environment. Although humanity is experiencing advancements in some of the aspects or fields in the society such as technology, health care and economics, environmental problems are still common due to natural catastrophes. Massive typhoons, earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions created large amounts of damage to our ecosystem. In addition, the world experienced hundreds, or even thousands or natural catastrophes in only a span of several years.
Ecosystem fires or forest wildfires are one of the natural catastrophes which have a massive impact to the environment. One of the most recent natural catastrophes that damaged the majority of the California's natural ecosystem is the famous "Rocky Fire". It has been coined as one of the most intense wildfire in 2015.
According to Mooney, the famous Rocky Fire in northern San Francisco is a massive wildfire that had brought an estimated 69,600 acres of land into a seemingly embellished burning festival in the state, of which around 30 % had only been contained (2015). One of the primary reasons for such event is the heightened effects of global warming in the state. According to the reports, there is no single case of the wildfire in the state since 2000 that covers much land as that of the Rocky Fire (Mooney, 2015). Furthermore, the wildfire has eradicated more or less 43 homes and risks thousands of human lives in jeopardy. The Rocky Fire is one of the natural catastrophes in the modern times which results to hazardous impacts to air, soil, water, human health and other environmental or human effects.
Rocky Fire: Air Impact
Forest wildfires have a huge significant negative impact with regards to the air quality of the environment. Massive burning of trees and grasses provides large amounts of smoke emission in the atmosphere that may cause serious human health problems, particularly on human respiratory health systems. Furthermore, forest wildfires also cause increased levels of particulate matters and ozone that could cause public health hazards and human respiratory ailments (Miranda et al., n.d.). The smoke produced from the forest wildfires contains large amounts to toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous compounds and many others. These toxic gases could result to serious lung problems such as cancer and respiratory diseases if individuals are exposed to it (Miranda et al., n.d.). These higher levels even cause lack of visibility which could cause accidents among human travellers.
Rocky Fire: Soil Impact
Massive forest wildfire, just like the Rocky Fire, does not only contribute to air safety hazards and issues, but also to immense soil erosion. It commonly took longer hours, days, or even months to completely put out the fire brought by the massive burning of trees and grasses. Uncontrolled Rocky wildfire in California which commonly lasts for several days may cause the soil to deplete and that the structure of once a mineralized soil shall be changed brought about by too much heat on the ground (Jeter, 2008). Hence, according to Miranda et al., the associated loss of soil, organic matter, and nutrients on the ground provides an unsustainable forest development and innovation in the future (n.d.). Also, the downstream ecosystem functioning of the environment will be disrupted since the soil lacks the nutrients and organic matter for its own sustainability. Higher temperature along the wildfire site may even contribute to ignition of organic elements and particles in the ground that can lead to enhanced burning and widespread of fire. Thus, the occurrence of soil erosion is very destructive in terms of environmental preservation and sustainability. As for the Rocky forest wildfire, around 69,600 acres of land, or even more of it, shall experience soil erosion in the future. Soil erosion and degradation of the land could impose a serious health effect to humans. Soil erosion and degradation of land could result the pollution of water bodies nearby which could endanger the health of humans.
Rocky Fire: Water Impact
The water system in the wildfire site is also affected mainly due to soil erosion, leading to water contamination and unsafe water system. The unsafe water system may be very harmful to humans since three-fourths of the components of the human body system is directly associated with water. Aside from unsafe water system, there is also a tendency for a heightened surface water runoff or rainfall (Jeter, 2008). A heightened amount of surface water runoff may lead to contaminated and suspended soil particles and dissolved inorganic nutrients which contribute to reduced water quality system in the whole state. Water pollution due to forest wildfire is considered dangerous for the human health. Humans have been relying on the major water sources such as ground water and lakes. Contamination of these water bodies could result to serious health effects when used by humans.
Implications of Rocky Forest Wildfire Based on the Major Effects
As of the moment, climate change and heightened global warming is the two primary reasons why people frequently experience different natural calamities from all over the world. The effects of Rocky wildfire in California do not only cover the environmental distress in the state. Livelihood and agriculture have been significantly affected because of the wildfire. Most of the vegetation and other livelihood stocks around the state have been affected because of soil erosion. Furthermore, wildlife species have no more homes for them to live in since the forest has been wiped out as wildfire destroys their four essential elements for them to live: food, water, air, and space (Jeter, 2008). What matters more here are small wildlife animals who cannot escape from flames and intense heat, which made them so helpless against the massive wildfire. Thus, it is also a matter of conserving their lives much as we preserve human species as well. It is a matter of how we provide and nourish a sustainable environment for everyone.
Human Health Effects of Rocky Wildfire
One of the biggest concerns for this particular natural catastrophe is the human health implications caused by excessive fire and smoke production. According to Jeter (2008), every moment that forest wildfires occur, several homes, vehicles, buildings, crops, and hay bales are being destroyed, much as human lives also perish. The smoke emission may also be very harmful not only to humans but also to wildlife animals, as too much air contaminants and ozone inside the body may lead to different respiratory disorders which may cause death.
Respiratory disorders and lung complications could be some of the results of the human exposure to the smoke released or emitted from the forest wildfires. Water pollution could also be a result of the forest wildfire which is a common result of the soil erosion and soil degradation. Contamination of the water bodies could also be considered dangerous to the human health.
Other Impact of Forest Wildfires
Forest wildfires could result to several additional problems for humans. Firsts, species including humans living near the wildfire area should be evacuated. This evacuation process requires large amounts of effort, money and time which could be tedious for humans. Another problem is its impact to the transportation. Some of the roads could be blocked or some of the roads are included in the area of the forest wildfires. Evacuation of humans and animals could also be a problem if the roads are blocked due to the forest wildfires.
Conclusion
Humans are in a generation of modern advancements and innovations. We live in technologies and scientific researchers. But beyond everyone's capacity to expand people's horizon of the unexpected realities of life, let us not always forget that we are once considered as nomad individuals, that we live a very simple life, without any technologies or whatsoever innovations. What I am trying to say is that let us not forget the past, the way we are concerned about our nature and environment. Just as what Mooney (2015) had mentioned in his article, forest wildfire is only one of the several calamities that our environment had experienced and shall be experiencing as well in the future. There is still quite a long way to go for our nature to be called as a sustainable environment. Just as Jeter (2008) questioned the audience, do we really want to live in an damaged environment? No one deserves to live in an ugly environment, not even wildlife species does. We all lived in equal opportunities – and the Rocky Fire serves as a challenge for us to do something, as soon as possible. We need to make a change right now; we need to do our part as protectors of the environment.
References
Jeter, J. P. (2008). The environmental effects of wildfire. Web. Retrieved 28 March 2016. <http://www.forestry.state.al.us/Publications/TREASURED_Forest_Magazine/2008%20Spring/The%20Environmental%20Effects%20of%20Wildfire.pdf>
Miranda, A. I., Alves, C., & J. J. Keizer. (n.d.). Environmental effects of forest fires. Web. Retrieved 28 March 2016. <http://www.cesam.ua.pt/files/forest_fires.pdf>
Mooney, C. (2015). California is battling its scariest 2015 wildfire so far – the Rocky Fire. The Washington Post. Web. Retrieved 28 March 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/08/05/california-is-now-experiencing-its-scariest-wildfire-in-2015-so-far/?
