California Wildfires

By Jakob Salao, Sports Editor

NOAH BERGER/ AP

California continues to suffer from rapid wildfires affecting thousands of people, their homes, and even state landmarks. Although most of the fires have been contained, several continue to fester. The risk for wildfires remains high in the southern region, especially in areas like San Diego.

According to the Wildland Fire Assessment System from the United States Forest Service, on Nov. 8 there were reportings of serious fires in San Diego, Santa Ana, Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Kings Canyon National Park. Other areas at great risk include Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Sacramento.

As of Dec. 13, fires that have already occurred have burned approximately more than 253,334 acres of land and have caused approximately $2.5 billion in damages. Around 526 buildings have been destroyed. There are 44 reported deaths from California’s October fires alone, with 22 deaths from the Sonoma County wildfire alone. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the length of the fire season is estimated to increase by 75 days.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, “Fueled by drought, an unprecedented buildup of dry vegetation and extreme winds, the size and intensity of these wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and exposed millions of urban and rural Californians to unhealthy air.”

On Oct. 8, Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order to speed recovery from fires. Recently, the Trump Administration said that it would revoke California’s Clean Air Act waiver, which allows it to establish its own air pollution status.

“This is not just another legislative game here,” Brown said. “This is life-and-death stuff. And climate change is related to the fires in California.”

It is predicted that California will continue to suffer from fires due to recent phenomenons in climate change. There are higher temperatures in the spring and summer that create more intense dry seasons making the land more susceptible to fires. Fire fighters are quickly thinking of new and more effective strategies and techniques to combat fires. They are additionally looking toward new technology and building their resources to hopefully lessen the damage that future fires may cause.