Do people equate the global wild fires with global warming? Or is it still just weather?

[Greedybilly]

What are your thoughts?
I'm finding the whole thing bloody terrifying and feel like we're all just sleep walking into a bit of a nightmare.

Well we used to travel to France every year as a child in 70’s and 80’s in peak summer and whilst it was very hot, I don’t remember ever worrying or my parents worrying about fires!

I connect it to climate change. If only the length of time without rain.

Ok. It varies by region and where I live there’s been little change. You’ll have read my earlier posts about the inability of the soil to retain rainfall.

Y other points are correct and do not change the overall climate problems that I referred to.

So does anyone know what exactly starts these fires.

You were watching the wrong channel. The BBC has been full of it. It did open with the French, Spanish and Italian ones, simply because they are so many and so widespread (the graphics were truly frightening) but then straight to the Cairngorms, then the Isle of Wight, Derbyshire and a couple of other places but mentionned none of the less apocalyptic ones, of which there are many. It's a bit daft feeling left out about it. That isn't going to stop them happening or resolve the situation.

Have any of you come across the National Emergency Briefing? https://www.nebriefing.org/

We watched it at work recently. It's a really good overview (and therefore somewhat scary) of the state of climate change. But it's also hopeful, as there are actions that we can take which will help mitigate things. But it has to be on a governmental level. If you can find a screening it's worth a watch.

@Evolutionarygoals- not watched this but I will. Thanks

I sincerely hope you are wrong; but suspect you are not...

The fires have to start from something. Arson and accidental are two that I reckon. The tinder dry scrub and vegetation/pines etc. ensure spread "like wildfire".

So while climate change is a big factor in the tinder dry areas, humans and their ways in these areas are a huge factor, especially when you think of how many extra people are around on holidays.

I don't know what the solution is. Human behaviour might need a big wake up call in such areas. Some action caused the fires, what was it?

We are on the path to extinction and that's that. I can't watch the vid, I find Chris Packham intensely annoying.

This

i was listening to someone on the radio last week and he said wildfires are all man made although the dryness and climate crisis is making it easier for them to take hold.

Read 140+ people arrested in connection with wild fires in France. Huge numbers. Someone I know over there also say some people are apparently putting fire to cats to spread it quickly. That is just horrific.

Apparently 90% of the causes of the wildfires due to human input - whether carelessness, intentional etc. Of course, it's so dry so the conditions are 'perfect' for small fires/sparks to set off.

Its happening in the UK too
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz97nekx53xo

Embers carried by wind ignite more and more areas, so one fag or the sun reflecting off something, a discarded vape or a barbecue can all be the catalyst. When it was 40c in UK there were concerns that flint catching sun could ignite a fire.
Huge water extraction for whatever reason doesn’t help. Whatever the pros and cons of AI are, it seems nowhere has enough water to run them.

Yes I do with the wildfires. But more so, the fact that in 46 years of farming I’ve just finished the wheat harvest a full 2 weeks before we used to start 20 years ago.

Well if wildfires destroy loads of countryside, then that's worries about the greenbelt gone. Build, baby, build. Imagine all the money other people can make.

(Personally I agree with the OP. But that's boring, so the above is for the less discerning reader who feels contrarian today).

People cause the fires - hence why I'm talking about the number of people arrested.

it worries me slightly when people ask this question because it makes me wonder if they've got some kind of idea of spontaneous fires breaking out for no reason other than lack of rain.

@SerendipityJane I agree. And it's partly why I'm so interested in the arrest numbers. There is a strange lack of info re the Cairngorms.

A few years ago - or maybe 2018 actually - I found a burnt out disposable barbecue sitting in a hollowed out tree on Hampstead Heath. 😱😱😱

I’ve been following the news and so far most of the fires in southern Europe have been directly caused by a human being either deliberately starting the fire or being stupid with a barbecue, or campfire, or burning rubbish.

I haven’t read of any wild fires caused by say heat lighting (thunder storm with no rain).

The fact that the areas are more prone to a small fire becoming a huge crisis is due to climate change AND the fact that most governments have done fuck and all to prepare for living in a hotter and drier climate.

Putting up signs saying no open flames in forests doesn’t cut it. They need to build reservoirs, fire breaks. They need to clear out the dead undergrowth regularly so the forest isn’t sitting on a tinderbox of dried grass and shrubs.

@larkandowl jeepers just when you think you've read all manner of depraved behaviour..
Up pops another
Setting fire to cats
Wtaf is wrong with some people

@JesseDavisGonnaHangOnInThereNSoul I was hoping that was a typo for cars...

@palorina Authorities may have to start limiting access to areas of the countryside in the summer if it is dry. We were in the Narbonne area last year in early July and it had been, again, very hot and dry. French authorities had closed the Massif de la Clape to the public (an area near the sea and lagoons very popular with hikers and holiday makers) on account of the wild fire risk.

Ah never thought of that,I hope your right.

No it's cats I've googled it

No I read it in the Guardian.. It's cats. Apparently in Sicily, firefighters had found dead cats with flares or fireworks tied to their tails in wild fire areas.

I suslect it wasn't done to deliberately start fires but as traditional awful animal abuse.

I don't understand why some people think the UK's pollution figure absolves them of responsibility. The individual's contribution doesn't depend on the size of the country they come from. If you live alone on an island, your car is causing the same damage as it would in China or the US.