Why?
It is no secret that in California, there are wildfires destroying houses and tearing through forests state-wide. But why is this happening?
There are a variety of causes that can be attributed to this crisis, but the largest causes appear to be both the environment and humans.
Environmental Factors
Natural conditions have played a large role in facilitating the infernos across California. Unusually high heat waves, drought, and dry vegetation all contribute to the likelihood of wildfires and their ability to spread. On top of this, strong and dry “Diablo” winds push the fires even further. Contributing to all of these conditions is the overarching issue of climate change.
Human Activity
A variety of human actions have contributed to the wildfires. The supply of wood fuels being held in forests has increased along with CA’s population. Allowing forests to become overgrown and poor management of electricity and electrical systems has led to increased fires. While people are not completely at fault, it is clear that humans have played a significant role and are now responsible for fixing the issues.
How is it being fixed?
The government is working towards cutting back on contributing factors and putting out the existing flames. While the fire department is formidable, the immense scale of these fires has spread the department thin, as they work to cover as much ground as possible.
Citizens are encouraged to do their part as well by reducing carbon emissions, cutting back on water usage, protecting forests, etc. Officials say that if everyone plays their part, the crisis will be significantly more resolvable and preventable in the long run.
Effects / Statistics (fire.ca.gov)
Currently, there are:
274 wildfires burning (qualifying fires are 10+ acres)
39,624 total emergency responses
55,082 acres burned
28 fatalities
16,188 structures destroyed
Until this crisis is resolved, these numbers will continue to increase. While in NJ, it may feel like we are unaffected by this issue happening on the other side of the country, we are more connected than we think. We must try and do our part to help the situation because even if we don’t feel the wildfires’ direct impact, we are still affected by the environment. If we don’t take care of the environment, these crises will continue to worsen. For the sake of California, our country, and the world, we should all help keep the environment healthy.
Comments