SST PROJECT DRAFT

MEMBER 1: DHRUV
In Uttarakhand, wild fires have resulted in approximately 1,300 hectares of forest
being destroyed and five people losing their lives. Nainital and Bageshwar districts are
among the places that have had the most severe flames. Apart from costing lives, the
fire cost a huge amount of money to the State Forest Department which is roughly Rs
25 lakh. In the course of these fires, there have been 910 incidences reported.
Nevertheless, some relief has come recently because of heavy rains in Garhwal and
Kumaon regions leading to considerable reduction of these fires.

These wildfires occur for various reasons: –

1) Dry Weather: The area has been experiencing continuous drought periods
resulting into high vulnerability to fire outbreaks. The exorbitant heat as well as
lack of rain has dried up the vegetation making it hyper inflammable.
2) Human Activity: Numerous fires are intentionally started; often for farming or
other personal benefits. Legal actions had been instituted by authorities against
persons starting fires deliberately with intention like land clearing.
3) Methods of Forest Management: The situation became worse due to poor
monitoring and inadequate preventive measures including preservation policies
in a number of cases where poor forest management techniques were employed.
4) Agricultural Practices: The spread of wildfires is enabled by the burning of
fodder and crop residues near forest areas.

This has affected the local ecosystem and community in several ways. It has had
many ecological, social and economic effects.

1) Ecological -
Loss of Biodiversity: The destruction of almost 1,300 hectares of forested land
resulted in the loss of habitat for many plant and animal species. This biodiversity
 loss disrupts local ecosystems that could lead to vulnerable species becoming
extinct and a decrease in number of species.
Air Quality: Wildfire smoke and ash contribute to air pollution which affects both
human as well as wildlife health. Poor air quality can cause cardiovascular
problems, respiratory related diseases among other health issues.
Degradation of Soil: By burning organic matter essential for soil fertility, wild
fires cause severe damage to soils. Intense heat can lead to the formation of a
hydrophobic layer which reduces water permeability within the soil increasing the
chances of erosion happening.

2) Social:
Health Effect: The local community has respiratory complications as well as
other health issues due to the reduced air quality caused by the fire. Smoke and ash
produced by the fire affects air causing a fall in its quality thereby worsening
conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.
Safety and Displacement Concerns: The possibility of an approaching wildfire
has forced people to evacuate their homes. The result is that individuals are
displaced from their homes and communities, which creates a lot of stress and
interrupts normal life.
Influence on Regional Ecosystems: When these ecosystems degrade, they affect
services like clean water; forest products; fertile soil etc., which they provide to
communities. Longer-lasting social and economic problems may emerge if these
programs are not reinstated.
3) Economic-
Forestry Loss: More than 1,300 hectares of forest land devastated which includes
the lumber have resulted into loss of important forest products. The Uttarakhand
Forest Department has incurred losses worth around 25 lakh rupees as a result of
this.
Medical Care Expenses: Wildfires’ smoke and ash results in poor air quality
which has made health care more expensive. Their requirement for medical
attention due to respiratory problems and other flames contributed ailments further
stretches their financial muscles.
Economic Displacement: Fires cause residents’ evacuations or relocations hence
affecting the local economy. This is worsened by difficult economic situations that
make displaced people lose jobs, incur higher living costs or even lose property.

This is the devastating impact that wildfires have had on the local community
and ecosystem.
MEMBER 2: PARTH
MEMBER 3: HRIDIT
GLOBAL INCIDENCES
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that spread quickly across vegetation, such as forests,
grasslands, and brushlands. Globally, places like California, Brazil, Australia, Canada,
and South Africa are prone to wildfires and experience them from time to time.

The above data accurately shows the tree cover loss due to forest fires since the past 2
decades (2001-2022). These fires are devastating and can lead to the deaths of several
animals, humans, plants, and can also cause destruction of their habitat. This page will
look into one of the wildfires in detail.

THE BLACK SATURDAY BUSHFIRES, AUSTRALIA (2009):

A few days before: known to be the worst natural disaster in Australian history.
 The weeks leading up to February 7, 2009, saw a heatwave in southeast
Australia, extending two months of hot, dry weather.
 Three days in a row saw temperatures in Melbourne rise above 43 degrees, and
on January 30, 2009, the city saw one of its warmest days ever recorded at 45.1
degrees.
 In the Victorian bush, these temperatures combined with low humidity led to dry
conditions.
 The vegetation was left completely dry after a dry period, leaving it highly
inflammable.
 An intense tropical low off the coast of North West Australia and a monsoon
trough over northern Australia combined to create the conditions for hot tropical
air to be directed down over Southeast Australia, causing a slow-moving high-
pressure system to settle over the Tasman Sea and release a heat wave.
The Day of the Fire:

 The fire entered Kinglake National Park toward Strathaven, St Andrews,

Kinglake, Kinglake West, Chum Creek, Steels Creek, Arthurs Creek, Flower
dale, Broadford, Healesville and Tolangi.


The above graph shows the rise in temperature. Forecasters warned of a record
heat wave with temperatures reaching up to 46.4 C.

 This graph shows winds as strong as 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). On that day,
the state saw the outbreak of over 47 large fires, 14 of which resulted in severe
property damage.
 A faulty electricity pole close to the settlement of Kilmore East, north of
Melbourne, caused the deadliest fire, known as the Kilmore East fire. The fire
immediately took a busy highway and raced into a forest, where it spread
rapidly, overshadowing the capabilities of the nearby firemen, forcing them to
escape. With the help of strong winds and steep hills, this fire rushed through a
series of towns and communities.
 The fire caught residents by surprise and trapped many in their homes. Some
attempted to escape by cars as the fires approached, but many died on the roads
as the fire passed by them, which leapt 330 feet (100 metres) above the tree line
and was powerful enough to kill with radiant heat from nearly 1,000 feet (300
metres) away.

THE EFFECTS:

The Graph below shows the amount of area of land burnt (in Hectares {ha}) in major
districts because of the fire. The total land burnt was between 430,000-450,000
Hectares. The Black Saturday bushfires killed 173 people and about a 100 people had
died in the Kinglake area alone. A little over 400 people were injured with severe
burns and just about half a million hectares of land had burned. About 4000 buildings
including more than 2000 houses destroyed. The RSPCA (The Royal Society for the
Prevention of the Cruelty of Animals) estimated that up to one million wild and
domesticated animals died in the disaster.

Ecological: The fires had a catastrophic impact on the environment:

The bushfires burned over 450,000 hectares of land, including farmland, national
parks, and forests.
This led to significant loss of wildlife and their habitats, with estimates of over a
million animals perishing in the inferno.
The fires disrupted ecosystems, causing long-term damage to flora and fauna. Some
species, already endangered, faced further threats to their survival due to habitat loss
and fragmentation.
Property: The destruction of property was extensive.
Approximately 2,029 homes were destroyed, displacing thousands of people and
leaving many communities in ruins.
Towns such as Marysville and Kinglake were almost entirely ruined.
The fires also destroyed 3,500 structures, including businesses, schools, and
community facilities, resulting in economic devastation for the affected regions.
Economic: The economic impact was staggering.
The projected cost of the property destruction was more over $4 billion AUD
(36,040,000,000 INR {in 2009}), excluding the costs of rebuilding, lost productivity,
and income.
Large areas of farmland were burned, livestock died, and harvests were lost, causing
farmers to suffer terrible losses.
Several companies, schools, and community buildings were destroyed, severely
harming the local economy.
Many farms and companies had a difficult and lengthy restoration procedure that
needed a lot of help and investment.
Psychological: Psychological and social effects of the Black Saturday bushfires were
severe.
The trauma of losing loved ones, homes, and livelihoods had lasting impacts on the
mental health of survivors.
Many experienced post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
Communities had to sustain the grief and the challenge of rebuilding their lives.
Social networks and support systems were crucial in the recovery process, as
individuals and families sought to restore a sense of normalcy.

What was done to make the situation better?

Immediate community responses
Donations
International aid
Class action lawsuits initiated in the Supreme Court of Victoria against electricity
distribution company SP Ausnet eventually leading to a settlement of just about
$800,000,000 AUD for two areas (Kinglake and the Marysville fires)
What strategies were implemented to prevent such tragedies?
THEME QUADRANT IN PROJECTS
SAFETY SYSTEMS
Community Enrolment Education & The Victorian Fire
and Education empowerment Risk Register
Neighbourhood safety
places-places for last
resort
Township protection
plans

Warnings Education and Development of

standards and delivery
Empowerment
of training

Kits for information

gathering and analysis

Community
information warnings

Bushfire Operations Engineering Improvement and

Modifications to
buildings, that
includes:
Upgrading IT
Infrastructure
Explanation of Projects:
Victorian Fire Register- is a process- representatives government, services, land
managers, community groups identify assets at risk from fire and assess the level of
risk to the assets.
Township Protection Plans-service plans or warranty for covering defects, accidents,
damage, tragedies, etc

Engineering required for Community Enrolment and Education-

 Community meetings in Victoria that are fire ready,

 evaluation Resources
 bushfire programs for a variety of groups,
 creation and evaluation of media,
 brigade assistance for community safety
MEMBER 4 AND 5: SHUBHAY AND PRAVIR
In India, forest management focuses on measures such as controlled burns,
establishing firebreaks, and enforcing strict regulations to prevent activities like
burning crop residues. Fire-resistant landscaping strategies entail planting species
resistant to fire and maintaining clear spaces around properties. Early detection
systems rely on satellite monitoring, ground patrols, and community reporting.
Emergency preparedness plans in India require coordination among local authorities,
firefighters, and forest departments. This involves training personnel, positioning
resources like fire trucks and helicopters strategically, and establishing effective
communication networks for swift response.
Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge in India prioritizes techniques like
controlled burning, rotational grazing, and selective harvesting to enhance forest health
and resilience. Biodiversity conservation efforts often center on community-led
initiatives and safeguarding sacred groves and traditional territories.

Prevention Strategies:
Technology: Wildfire prevention technology is a burgeoning industry, with many
promising developments. As pointed out by the US Government, damages and losses
are much higher if you factor in firefighting efforts and rehabilitation costs. While
conservationists and firefighters work tirelessly to stop new wildfires from spreading,
many technologies can help curb the spread of existing wildfires.
Fire Urgency Estimator in Geosynchronous Orbit (FUEGO): While still at the
concept stage, this ultra-modern technology is a series of drones and satellites
equipped with infrared sensors. Developed by the astrophysicist Carlton Pennypacker,
FUEGO hopes to detect the early warning signs of wildfires from space. FUEGO will
use platforms at various altitudes, including satellites that orbit the earth. This
technology is new and is yet to be tested, but it’s a good example of some of the
bleeding-edge climate change technologies being developed to fight forest fires.
Drones to Identify Fire Spread: Drones are an increasingly utilized form of new
technology, and they have recently been suggested as one of the latest climate change
technologies. Drones can spend up to eight hours in the air at a time, allowing them to
carry wildfire monitoring technologies to speak directly to forest service teams. They
provide an ideal solution for monitoring wildfire spread when smoke is too thick for
manned aircraft. While proving useful in protecting lives and monitoring wildfire
spread, drones come up short when it comes to providing solutions for wildfires at the
early stages.
Infrared Cameras: Infrared cameras or thermal imaging are the perfect climate
change technology partners for drones. Like drones, they don’t provide solutions to
forest fires but can detect and report heat, even without a flame. This means that
drones monitoring the forest canopies can detect wildfires when they’re on a smaller
scale. Conservationists can see clearly where the fire is burning at its hottest point to
locate where the fire is located within the forest vs. radiated heat. This kind of climate
change technology is helpful when navigating vast wooded areas.
AI-supported Sensor Network: One of the key aspects of effective wildfire
management is situational awareness. Real-time data plays a crucial role in
understanding the behavior and progression of active fires. With advancements in
technology, firefighters and first responders now have access to up-to-date information
on fire location, intensity, and direction. This real-time data enables them to make
informed decisions and deploy resources strategically to combat wildfires more
effectively. Leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI)
algorithms, sensor networks offer a reliable solution for early wildfire detection.

Non-Technological Methods:
Fire could be prevented in the summer through the removal of forest litter all along
the forest boundary.
Forest Breaks: Creating a forest line, or firebreak, is an effective strategy for wildfire
prevention and management. By clearing strips of land of combustible materials,
firebreaks act as barriers, slowing or stopping the spread of wildfires. They provide
clear pathways for firefighters to access and combat fires more efficiently and can
serve as escape routes. Strategically placed firebreaks help contain fires by segmenting
large forests into smaller sections, making them easier to manage. Removing
flammable materials reduces the overall fuel load, preventing small fires from
growing. Firebreaks can also protect critical infrastructure and natural resources by
creating defensible spaces. Proper planning ensures minimal ecological impact,
balancing fire prevention with environmental preservation. Integrating firebreaks with
other strategies like controlled burns enhances wildfire management effectiveness.
Ensuring safety in forest-adjacent areas: Ensuring safety in forest-adjacent areas,
including factories, coal mines, oil stores, chemical plants, and household kitchens, is
crucial for environmental and human well-being. Industrial sites must implement
stringent waste management and pollution control measures to prevent contamination
of forest ecosystems. Regular equipment maintenance reduces the risk of accidents
such as chemical spills or fires that could harm nearby forests. Similarly, proper
handling of substances like cooking oils and chemicals in households mitigates the
threat of accidental fires spreading to forested areas.

Government Policies:
The National Action Plan for Forests (NAPFF): NAPFF, initiated in 2018, aims to
decrease forest fires by educating, empowering, and engaging forest fringe
communities. By fostering collaboration with state forest departments, the plan
incentivizes communities to actively participate in fire prevention and management
efforts. Through informational campaigns and capacity-building initiatives, NAPFF
equips residents with the knowledge and resources needed to mitigate fire risks
effectively. By harnessing community involvement and support, NAPFF strives to
safeguard forest ecosystems and reduce the devastating impact of wildfires on both the
environment and livelihoods.
The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme: The Forest Fire Prevention
and Management Scheme (FPM) stands as the sole government-sponsored program
aimed at aiding states in addressing forest fires. Through FPM, authorities provide
essential support to mitigate and manage the risks posed by forest fires across various
regions. This scheme encompasses measures ranging from early detection systems to
firefighting equipment and training for personnel. By centralizing resources and
expertise, FPM plays a pivotal role in enhancing the preparedness and response
capabilities of states, thereby safeguarding both forested areas and the communities
reliant upon them.
Preparedness and Fighting Forest Fires:
I4F Instant Foam: Sometimes, water isn’t the most effective method for combating
wildfires, especially when they reach extreme levels beyond water's capacity. The
significant quantities of water required for firefighting often lead to wastage during
transportation, and the accuracy of water drops can be inconsistent, as noted by Cordis
EU Research. In response, Cordis has developed foam technology that offers a more
precise and efficient alternative. This foam is adept at coating vast forest areas,
ensuring even distribution where water may prove ineffective. While firefighting with
foam isn’t new, the I4F foam represents a significant advancement, designed to be less
wasteful than traditional forms and more environmentally friendly as a climate change
technology.
Green Bots: The use of smart sensors or ‘green bots’—in helping meet India’s
challenges in sustainable forest management is being explored. Green bots offer real-
time monitoring in fire-prone areas, detecting hazardous conditions like temperature
spikes or smoke. Once identified, management tools can swiftly contain and minimize
forest fire impacts. A national forest fire information database, as proposed by the
World Bank in 2018, integrates satellite data and field reports for long-term trend
analysis. Green bots play a pivotal role in furnishing authorities with crucial data for
predictive analysis.
Indigenous Methods of Forest Fire Prevention:
India:
Bishnoi’s of Rajasthan: The Bishnoi community practices controlled burning to clear
undergrowth and reduce fuel load in the Thar Desert region, where wildfires are
common during dry seasons.
Tribes of Odisha: Indigenous tribes in Odisha, like the Kondh and Santal, depend on
traditional knowledge to comprehend the fire ecology of their forests. They carry out
controlled burns and establish firebreaks to avert wildfires.
Adivasis of Madhya Pradesh: Adivasi communities in Madhya Pradesh, such as the
Gond and Baiga tribes, practice controlled grazing to diminish the accumulation of dry
vegetation in forested areas, thus lessening the threat of wildfires.
Chenchus of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh: The Chenchu tribe utilizes their
intimate knowledge of the forests in the Nallamala region to detect and suppress
wildfires swiftly. They also engage in controlled burning and maintain firebreaks.

Mishing Tribe of Assam: The Mishing tribe in Assam relies on community vigilance
as a primary strategy for forest fire prevention. They organize patrols to monitor
forested areas and detect and suppress wildfires in their early stages.
Jarawa Tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The Jarawa tribe practices controlled
burning to clear vegetation around their settlements and valuable resources, creating
natural firebreaks to protect their habitat from wildfires.
Prevention Strategies
FUEGO:

Drones:
Infrared Cameras:

AI-supported Sensor Network

Non-Technological Methods:
Forest Break
Preparedness and Fighting Forest Fires
I4F Instant Foam: