Humans cause 84% of forest fires¹. Some start from obvious reasons like improper use of fireworks or tossing a bottle into the bush. A less obvious source is from exploring trails with your motorized vehicle of choice. The single worst day for wildfires? Irresponsible use of fireworks on July 4th.

We are NOT powerless against wildland fires. The problem is NOT too big for us to make a difference. Through fire education and more awareness, we can make a difference. If you're reading this, you're already part of the community of people that take fire seriously.  We're writing this so you can share this with others to improve their fire awareness and education.

84% Of Wildfires Are Started by Humans

While it's easy to think forest fires are caused by Mother Nature, climate change and drier conditions, 84% of wildfires are actually started by humans. That means we can learn better fire behavior and change our habits to reduce the number of incidents.

The Most Forest Fires Start On July 4th

That bears repeating. The most wildfires start on July 4th versus any other day of the year because of fireworks. Not the huge ones we see in the sky, it's from the consumer fireworks that set fire to more than a million acres a year and generate the most wildfire activity. Click here to read Homeland Security's guide on how to use fireworks safely. Fireworks are an amazing way to celebrate, so let's make sure we're celebrating responsibly (especially when it comes to the fire potential). 

Our Vehicles Are Firestarters Too

According to the US Forest Service, 11% of fires started by humans were triggered by equipment. That includes off-road vehicles like 4x4s, UTVs, ATVs, dirt bikes and generators. Does that mean we should park our toys? Heck no! By being mindful of our impact and learning more fire information, we can reduce the risk of triggering a burn. Click here to watch KeepOregonGreen's amazing video on how vehicles can start wildfires and how to prevent them.  Looking for more ways to avoid creating large fires and minimize your impact on the ecosystem? Click here to read more about Leave No Trace and their 7 Principals.

Element: Your Mini Firefighter

Wildfires require professional firefighting but, together with Element, we can stop a small fire from turning into a full blown forest fire! Since Element is so small (80% smaller) and discharges for 5 times longer, it's the ideal companion on your trip into the woods. It easily fits anywhere in your car, UTV or can be slipped into a backpack without adding tons of weight. Just 0.5 lbs in fact. Element and other portable fire extinguishers are the first line of defense because they're designed for incendiary fires. This is when a fire first starts and before it enters the growth stage. Click here to see The 4 Stages Of Fire. By reacting quickly, you could stop a small spark from turning into a raging inferno.

Please share this article with others so we, together, can reduce the number of wildfires started by humans. The great outdoors are great so let's get out there and enjoy them!

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