If you’ve been following along for some time now, you probably know that I am from Anchorage, AK. Growing up, I remember vividly camping and hiking with my family around the southern and central parts of the state. Alaska is BIG, y’all, and forest covers much of the southeast and central portions. As such, Alaska is susceptible to wildfires in the warmer months.

I recall always checking the fire safety levels when camping in the summer. Good old Smokey the Bear is the US National Parks mascot for all things fire safety related. Green level means everything is under control and you are allowed to have campfires, and the safety level increases as you move up the scale to red. Red means extreme fire danger, and absolutely no burning is allowed.

In nature, some wildfires are necessary. Wildfires clear out the debris that collects on the forest floor, and some seeds need the heat in order to germinate. Most forest animals are pretty good at sensing fire and relocating themselves. Wildfires are commonly caused by lightening strikes, but also extreme heat. Now, the problem arises when humans set fires. These human-made wildfires are far more unpredictable and dangerous. The men and women who fight wildfires and their support teams are real heroes.

Wildfires in Alaska during the summer are pretty typical. It’s normal for there to be a few and you take the necessary precautions. The closest my home every came to a wildfire was a few years ago, where the fire was 3 miles away. Now, the firefighters and forest service have many ways to fight and contain these fires, so while we did evacuate, eventually the fire was controlled and everything and everyone was safe.

There have been a higher number of wildfires in Alaska this year. This is in part to climate change, and relates to the fire in the Amazon rainforest. On social media this week there has been a huge outcry because the traditional media platforms were not covering the wildfire. The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and what goes on there is 100% necessary for the rest of the world to survive. While there is sufficient media coverage of the fires in Alaska, I couldn’t help noticing some similarities in the two events.

I just watched a really good video made by Hank Green, which I will link to here. He goes into much more researched detail than I could about the situation. It is worth watching if you care about the earth at all. I have previously written posts about what you can do to help the environment, which again I will provide links to.

We can all do things in our lives to help prevent/reduce forest fires, just as we can all do things to help the environment. While there will not be any huge change unless the largest corporations are convinced to stop polluting and exploiting the earth we all live on, these little difference can make a change.

Essentially, don’t start any fires in areas where it is prohibited. When campfires are allowed, make sure you extinguish yours in its entirety. Do your own research and use common sense. Forests provide oxygen and make rain that the whole planet uses. Don’t do anything to jeopardize it.