Wildfires, forest fires, or bushfires are sometimes the result of human activity, with the main causes being the use of fire for land clearing, the burning of garbage, or the improper disposal of lit material like cigarette butts. However, there have been instances where devastating fires are caused by natural events such as lightning strikes in severe weather situations.
In 2022, the Jamaica Fire Brigade reported that 45 bushfire cases were classified as acts of nature while 284 bushfires were caused by discarded inflammable objects such as cigarette butts, and 1,577 incidents were caused by the careless use of fires.
In February 2023, Jamaica recorded 1,300 bushfires representing a 95 percent increase when compared to January, with 1,968 bushfires recorded since the start of the year.
For Small Island Developing States like Jamaica, the effects on property, as well as on the Agriculture, Forestry, and Health sectors are particularly daunting.
Consequently, the development of a Bush Fire Warning Index was seen as a necessary step in mitigating such disasters. The Index was developed by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation through the Meteorological Services, under a Grant Agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
While the Bush Fire Warning Index does not prevent the occurrence of wildfires, it serves as a predictive tool by giving an indication of specific locations within the various parishes with a high probability of fire outbreak, so that mitigative action may be taken. Based on the output of the Index, using soil moisture information, rainfall, temperature, and soil type, maps may be generated to show the varying likelihoods that bushfires could develop.
The Index has, so far, shown some reasonable success in identifying general areas for expected outbreaks of fires. This information has been particularly helpful for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.
Jamaica is indeed moving in the right direction as the Government introduces technology that will increase disaster preparedness and lessen risk.
Based on findings from a survey done under the project, there is evidence that educating the public against the use of slash-and-burn techniques for clearing land, as well as providing alternative methods to burning are having a positive effect.
With a likely increase in bushfires, given the effects of climate change such as longer dry periods, it is expected that further monitoring and refining of the Bush Fire Warning Index will increase its reliability so that it may truly be considered a critical tool in Jamaica’s climate resilience arsenal.
While the Bush Fire Warning Index is a proactive measure, citizens must play their part to prevent the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods due to bushfires. As such, citizens are urged to discontinue practices that could lead to devastating fires.