Just as Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, California gets its fair share of wildfires — but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still devastating and damaging to the area. California has been plagued by wildfires this past October and November. The Kingcade Fire alone burned over 77,000 acres and has been only been 65% contained, according to NPR. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency due to the conditions. Unfortunately, the frequency of these fires appears to be increasing. Fifteen of the 20 worst fires in the state’s history have happened in the past 19 years or so, according to National Geographic.
California’s dry environment (especially in the fall) combined with wind gusts that may reach as high as 80 miles per hour can cause wildfires to spark and spread quickly, up to 14 miles per hour, according to National Geographic. Fires may be caused by sparked power lines, anthropogenic sources and more. Besides just the damage caused by the flames themselves, smoke can be a major hazard when it nears residential areas, cities, highways and roads. There’s no clear end in sight either.
Global climate change may also be at least some of the reasons these fires are becoming more and more of a threat to California. In the past hundred years alone, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated that the average temperature of Southern California has risen approximately three degrees Fahrenheit. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide have been increasing, heating up the planet. For California, this means more heatwaves and less rain — a dangerous combination for a state already so prone to wildfires.
Beyond just the flames themselves, an increase in wildfires would mean an increase in all their negative side effects as well. Potential effects can include smoke endangering driving conditions due to poor visibility, impacts public health because of smoke inhalation, displacing wildlife and destroying their habitats, the damaging of property and associated costs and using resources to fight the flames.
Aside from ensuring that the risk of fires sparked from anthropogenic sources like bonfires or cigarettes is mitigated, making sure power companies maintain proper practices is crucial as well. Pacific Gas & Electric shut off power in an attempt to prevent more fires from sparking. “This ended up leaving people without power in a time of crisis,” criticized Newsom to NPR.
There’s no one thing we can do to stop all wildfires in California — in fact, a lot of the landscape and ecosystems have adapted to the fires, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still dangerous and damaging. Trying to limit our greenhouse gas release and mitigate sources of fires we can control may help, but the best answer, for now, may be to further educate citizens on climate change and let Californians know how they can stay safe in the event of a fire.
Photo: D. Leak
