Wildfires continue in the West

California has been no stranger to widespread wildfires. However, the damage this time around has been considerably less than that of recent years. At the beginning of last week, about 75,000 acres had burned in areas under the state’s firefighting agency, Cal Fire. Comparatively, according to Cal Fire, more than 600,000 acres had burned by the same time last year.

This time period is despite the fact that later, Paradise, Northern California, would be victim to thousands of homes being burned and almost 90 people dead. In conjunction with that, the Woolsey fire burned about 100,00 acres through Malibu and other parts of Southern California.

This time around, the fires that raged in California over the past two weeks consumed only a few thousands of acres—less alarming but still worrisome.

With the recent Kincade and Getty fires, not only were 16 fires burning at one point, violently spurred by turbulent winds, but initentional blackouts left thousands of Californian residents without power for days.

Another destructive fire fed by violent winds attacking the slopes of the San Bernardino National Forest, proceeding south towards a nearby town. The “Hillside” fire consumed over 200 acres of dry area and vegetation, damaging at least six homes before firefighters responded adequately. Though no injuries were reported, evacuation orders were put in effect for some 500 homes, displacing about 1,300 residents.

But, why are these fires so widespread? California being in drought was a glaring reason for many previous incidents. However, it is no longer in that drought. Consequently, scientists and firefighters cite dry vegetation as a primary concern. Drier plants catch fire more easily, allowing fires to grow bigger and faster.

Other reasons include climate change—California is about 3 degrees warmer than it would be without the effects of climate change. There is also the fact that Santa Ana winds tend to intersect with the drier landscape, feeding fires as well as artificial factors like California’s degrading private power infrastructure.

Darlon Riviere - Staff Writer