Number of fires and acres burned due to U.S. prescribed fires in 2017, by state

A controlled or prescribed burn, also known as hazard reduction burning, backfire, swailing, or a burn-off, is a fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement.

Controlled burns in Western forests reduce the risk of wildfire but release carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. But a team of ecologists recently showed that controlled burns can actually benefit the climate in the long term.

A controlled burn is a wildfire that people set intentionally for a specific purpose. Well-thought out and well-managed controlled burns can be incredibly beneficial for forest management—in part because they can help stop an out-of-control wildfire.

Answer: – (1) The number of escaped fires seems to be trending up. – (2) We do not know how many of the “success” burns might have been near misses. – (4) The report does not say how destructive the escaped fires were, only how many there were.

During a home fire, there’s an increased level of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as well as damaging levels of chemical and thermal irritants. These irritants can permanently damage a person’s or animal’s respiratory system and cause death.

Fire has been used by humans in rituals, in agriculture for clearing land, for cooking, generating heat and light, for signaling, propulsion purposes, smelting, forging, incineration of waste, cremation, and as a weapon or mode of destruction.

Here are 8 ways you can use fireplace ashes around your home and garden.

1. Amending Soil and Boosting Your Lawn.
2. Add Ash to Your Home Compost.
3. Wood Ashes for Cleaning.
4. Make Soap at Home.
5. Keep Harmful Bugs Away.
6. Add Traction to Slippery Walkways.
7. Soak Up Driveway Spills.
8. Fire Control.