Between the end of Spring and the beginning of Autumn, in Portugal, wildfires become a concern, raising several questions, for which we donโt always have answers. Worse, several myths and misconceptions are built around the topic.
For that reason, throughout this field notebook we will attempt to answer 7 frequent questions surrounding wildfires:
In Portugal, does it only burn forest?
Are there trees that burn more than others?
Why are there so many wildfires in Portugal?
What is an ignition and how does it happen?
Do all trees die with wildfires?
What is Wildfire Risk?
Is fire a natural event?
Is fire a natural event?
In Portugal, does it only burn forest?
No. In the portuguese landscape, besides forests, shrublands and some agricultural areas can also burn. All vegetation can burn, more or less easily, depending on whether it is very dry or very green (with less or more humidity).
Therefore, itโs more correct to say wildfires instead of forest fires.
Are there trees that burn more than others?
Yes. Some species of trees, due to having more oils (eucalyptus) or resins (pines), burn more easily (for being more flammable). Deciduous trees (trees whose leaves fall in Autumn), such as oaks, ash trees and beeches retain more moisture, which makes them less prone to burning.
The place where trees are located may also make a difference.
If they are on a drier zone, for example, on a south-facing slope, they may burn more easily. On the contrary, if they are located in a more humid area, such as near a watercourse, they are less likely to burn.
However, when we have very intense wildfires, like the ones from 2017, unfortunately, these differences become very subtle, since in these situations the fire doesn’t have preference over any kind of vegetation, burning everything that is on its path
Why are there so many wildfires in Portugal?
The dryness of the portuguese climate and the vast amount of vegetation in the forest and shrubland are two of the main reasons on why it happens.
The mediterranean climate consists of rainy winters with mild temperatures, which allow vegetation to grow significantly. This vegetation then dries out and becomes fuel for fires during the hot dry summers that also characterizes this climate
Another factor is human behavior and practices, because there are no wildfires without something to start them – the ignitions.
