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While the vast majority of carbon emitted by wildland fires is released as CO2, CO, and CH4, wildland fire smoke is nonetheless a rich and complex mixture of gases and aerosols. Primary emissions include significant amounts of CH4 and aerosol (organic aerosol and black carbon), which are short-lived climate forcers. In addition to CO2 and short-lived climate forcers, wildland fires release CO, non-methane organic compounds (NMOC), nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO +NO2), NH3, and SO2. These species play a role in radiative forcing through their photochemical processing, which impacts atmospheric levels of CO2, CH4, tropospheric O3, and aerosol. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the chemical composition of emissions and emission factors for fires in United States vegetation types as pertinent to radiative forcing and climate. Emission factors are critical input for the models used to estimate wildland fire greenhouse gas and aerosol emission inventories. (USDA, Forest Service DOA 2014)

A commitment to lowering the impact of forest fires on our environment via proactive burning, trenching and limiting deforestation.

Fire by the Numbers

Top CO2 Contributors in 2022 by % and Budget
State
Alaska
California
Oregon
New Mexico
Idaho
% CO2
49.3%
8.5%
5.0%
6.9%
5.6%
Budget
$120M
$6.8M
$2.5B*
$3.5M
$1.2B
*New Mexico Budget includes payouts to effected residents.

Alaska and California lead the country with wildfires

  • Alaska has emitted 1.6 billion tons of CO2 alone over the last 20 years.

  • California wiped out all of its progress on emissions reductions with JUST 2020’s fire season

Forest fires (alone) emitted the equivalent of 3.36% of U.S. emissions in 2021

  • 2021 total increase in U.S. emissions: 5,593.5 million metric tons (source)

  • 2021 total FIRE-related U.S. emissions: 188.05 million metric tons (source)

  • 188.05/5593.5 = 3.36%

  • Plus, they destroy the very nature we want to protect and remove the opportunity for carbon to be sequestered by the trees that end up burned

Forest Fire

Takeaways

  • Forest fires are a cheap way to reduce emissions

  • The Top Five States in Forest Fire Carbon Emissions in 2022:

  • Alaska = 49.3%; Spent: $120 million (link)

  • Oregon = 8.5%; Spent: $6.8 Million (link)

  • New Mexico = 6.9%; Spent: $2.5 Billion (also used to help victims of fires) (link)

  • Idaho = 5.6%; Spent: $3.5 Million (link)

  • California = 5.0%; Spent: $1.2 Billion (link)

The U.S. has emitted 188M Metric Tons of CO2 was released in 2021 from Forest Fires. (3.36% of US Total CO2 emissions.

  • ​This amount of emissions is the equivalent of (insert relatable comparison of another country’s emissions, or something)

  • Yet only .01% of the GND is dedicated to forest fires.

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