Landscape fires are an increasing concern in many regions, including the Western Balkans, where hot, dry summers create the perfect conditions for fires to ignite and spread. When it comes to managing these fires, there are two very different approaches: prevention and suppression. Understanding the difference can make all the difference for farmers, communities, and ecosystems.
Suppression refers to fighting fires after they have already started. It involves firefighting teams, water pumps, helicopters, and heavy machinery to control and extinguish the fire. While suppression is necessary to protect lives and property in an emergency, it comes with significant drawbacks. Landscape fires often spread faster than firefighting teams can contain them. Large fires are expensive to fight, dangerous for personnel, and sometimes impossible to fully control, leading to unavoidable losses of crops, livestock, forests, and infrastructure.
Prevention, by contrast, focuses on reducing the likelihood of a fire starting or spreading. This includes managing vegetation to reduce fuel load, maintaining firebreaks, practicing safe agricultural methods, and educating communities about the risks and causes of landscape fires.
The benefits of prevention are clear. Fires that are prevented or slowed before they grow out of control save lives, protect property, and reduce the strain on emergency services. Preventive measures are also far more cost-effective than responding to large fires. Over time, prevention helps build resilient landscapes and safer communities, making farms and ecosystems better prepared for hotter, drier conditions brought about by climate change.
Although prevention is the most effective strategy, it is not a replacement for suppression. Fires may still occur despite careful preventive efforts, and trained firefighting teams remain essential for controlling and extinguishing them. The key is balance: prevention reduces the number and severity of fires, while suppression ensures rapid response when prevention alone is not enough.
For farmers and communities, the takeaway is simple. Reducing fuel loads, planning and maintaining firebreaks, practicing safe agricultural methods, and staying informed about fire risks are essential first steps. Suppression is a critical backup, but its effectiveness is much greater when paired with strong preventive measures. Prioritizing prevention not only lowers costs and protects the environment but also creates safer, more sustainable landscapes for generations to come.