BY SARAH AND TOM

Bushfires are frequent events during the

hotter months of the year. Each year, such fires impact extensive

areas

Bushfire incidents can be caused in many different ways. The causes of ignition can be split into two groups, 'natural' and 'human influence'. Lightning strikes are the main way bushfires are started naturally. There are, on average, more bushfires initiated due to lightning strikes than any other individual cause, accounting for approximately 26 percent of all bushfires.

The vast majority of bushfires, however, are generated by the actions or influences of humans. On occasions, a campfire can develop into a bushfire, if the campfire is left unattended or not properly extinguished.

Some farmers burn vegetation on their properties to rid the land of crop debris, control weeds and remove rubbish. These fires are referred to as agricultural burns and can lead to bushfires when they are not administered carefully. Agricultural burns are responsible for about 15 percent of all bushfires. Machinery or equipment that generates heat or sparks can potentially act as a catalyst for bushfires

Bushfires occur in places with dry shrubs, trees and grass. When

it is hot there is a higher chance of a

bushfire.

Fires rage through bush land, sometimes creeping into urban areas. The intensity of the bushfire dictates the effect on the environment. Severe bushfires may burn all the vegetation in a particular area, while more moderate fires will, generally, cause less damage to the natural surroundings.

The most obvious result of fire is the loss of plant and animal life. When an area is burned out, vegetation is destroyed as it was used by the fire as fuel. In addition, animals are killed in bushfires by high temperatures and suffocation.