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Extreme weather dominates news bulletins around the world. From tsunamis to superstorms, floods to wild fires, natural disasters affect people globally on a daily basis. Wild fires, and their deadly consequences, have hit the headlines over the past decade as huge fires have devastated areas in countries around the world. But why are these occurrences becoming more frequent, and more severe? And what happens to the affected communities after disaster has struck? Planet in Peril: Wild Fires answers these questions and many more, including when and why wild fires occur, and how technology is helping people to prepare for, and protect themselves against, them.
Wild Fires looks at three of these natural disasters from recent years in detail: the Black Saturday bushfires in Australia in 2009, the Colorado wildfire of 2012 and the forest fires in Bolivia in 2010. Comprehensive case studies cover when and where the fires started, the immediate impact of the disaster, the fire damage, the long-term effects, the global aid efforts and the rebuilding and regeneration of affected communities. Eyewitness panels give firsthand accounts of the disaster from flood victims, emergency service personnel, including the rural fire service involved, aid workers and scientists working to combat the effects of natural disasters. Infographic elements display statistics about each wild fire in a clear, concise and visual way. Learn about the preparations made for wild fires: what protective mechanisms and warning systems are in place, the emergency drills people must learn, and how communities are evacuated in the event of a disaster. Find out about the disaster recovery effort immediately after each event, how aid reaches affected areas, and where it comes from. See how communities fare in the immediate aftermath, how they cope with damage to infrastructure and homes, lack of basic necessities and, in some cases, the loss of friends or relatives. Then find out how they cope long-term, deal with the economic impact, and regenerate. Discover whether climate change and global warming are increasing the impact and severity of wild fires, and how research is being done, and technology developed, to combat it. See how warning systems and evacuation drills can dramatically improve people's chances of survival, and learn about some solutions, such as firebreaks, that reduce the impact of wild fires.
Planet in Peril: Wild Fires is ideal for children age 9+, for geography and science projects, or simply for anyone interested in finding out the background behind the 'extreme weather' news reports. Wild fires are not the only natural disaster our planet faces, find out about tsunamis, superstorms and floods in other titles in the series.
Cath Senker is a children's non-fiction writer who specialises in writing about global issues.
