WILDFIRE AWARENESS INITIATIVE
NEWS AND ALERTS
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CARBON EMISSIONS CAUSE WILDFIRES
May, 2023
In the journal of Environmental Research Leaders, a study was published last Tuesday that revealed shocking news about carbon pollution. About 40% of wildfires over the last 40 years were one of the many negative side effects of excess carbon emissions from the 88 largest fossil fuel and cement producers. The carbon that enters the atmosphere when burning official fuels is a greenhouse gas, remaining in our atmosphere and trapping the energy leaving the planet. This in turn directly leads to global warming, the driving cause behind dryer atmospheric conditions in the West. When the atmosphere is dry, it “sucks” up moisture from plants and terrain, creating wildfire prone areas.When conducting the study, researchers focused on the vapor pressure deficit (how effectively air dries out plants) in Western North America. They found that carbon emissions from major carbon producers have caused a 48% increase in the vapor pressure deficit, which in turn was the driving cause behind 37% or 19.8 million areas of the land burned between 1986 and current day. Accountability is necessary for these main carbon producers because wildfire wreaks havoc on both communities and the land, and without proper regulation of their practices, the fires will continue to get worse.
PLAN TO DECREASE WILDFIRE RISK IN LOS GATOS WATERSHED
January, 2023
After the disastrous SCU Lightening Complex and LNU Lightning Complex fires of 2020 devastated parts of California, a group in Santa Clara County decided they had to do something. They decided to protect the Los Gatos Creek Watershed, which is located at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a wildfire prone area. This reservoir contains the water for more than 100,000 residents of neighboring counties, and therefore it needs to remain unharmed. The group was deemed the Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative and was gifted seven and a half million dollars of CAL FIRE grant money in 2021 to carry out their plans.They are currently working to maintain vegetation along the 955 acres the watershed is located on. By doing this, they would potentially be able to slow the spread of a wildfire, and protect the integrity and cleanliness of the reservoir. In 2022, the group completed a project clearing 45 acres of brush, and other steps towards their estimated goal of completing the mission in 2025. In the future, they are looking towards attaining more grants to do more extensive projects including partners and other organizations.
WILDFIRES IN CHILE KILLS
December, 2022
While this year has seen a remarkably low wildfire frequency in California, other areas of the world are not so fortunate. Yesterday, the 22nd of December, two wildfires broke out in separate areas of Chile. By the night of the same day, one of the fires in the Vine del Mar area had had a state of emergency declared because of it. It has burned over 300 acres of land, taking down hundreds of homes and killing at least one person. This fire in particular spread at such a fast rate because of high winds in the area. While acre numbers being in the hundreds may not seem detrimental, for countries that are not accustomed to fighting out of control blazes they can have detrimental effects. Factories nearby the fires have had to shut down in order to avoid damage, specifically plants that utilize coal to make power. This could potentially have a negative impact on even towns not in the area, because they would have to limit their use of power.
INCREASE IN WILDFIRES CAUSE COSTS TO RISE
December, 2022
Because of the increase in wildfire frequency and damage, over the last decade, the US government has doubled the amount of money spent on wildfire recovery. But more specifically, states have been struggling with the negative effects of wildfires and the costly price tag that comes with them. A reliable tracking system for this spending has not been implemented, and due to this, budgets when surrounding wildfires are not well defined. When highly destructive wildfires hit, states have had to use tax money reserved for general maintenance in order to combat the blaze. In Washington, over one third of $83 million spent on wildfire suppression was resourced from general funds. If fires were to burn on federal land it would be the country’s responsibility to answer costs, but the majority of wildfires burn on state lines. This leads to states having to pay for everything, giving out grants that take years to repay. Because past wildfire efforts are still being financially compensated, it is near impossible to tell how much fires cost each year. This has made it difficult to track wildfire spending. And as the risk of wildfires increases year to year, it becomes an even more challenging task. Experts believe it will be important to bring into consideration the growing demands for wildfire suppression as well as the needs of the state when creating a financial wildfire plan.
NEW EARLY WILDFIRE DETECTION SYSTEM
November, 2022
The recent uptick in wildfire damage has sparked new developments in the world of fire detection. The number of wildfires is expected to increase up to 14% by 2030, which not only causes a lot of damage, but releases tons of CO2 waste into our atmosphere. Currently, smoke detectors visually attempt to detect smoke, which is slow, and inaccurate. Dryad, a company based in Germany, has created a new type of detector. Their goal with this detector is to locate fires before it has lit, or less than an hour after it starts. Their Dryad system consists of a solar powered gas detector that senses the different elements and compounds that make up smoke. After the gasses have been detected, the system’s built-in antenna sends out a signal to nearby forest workers or fire stations. When tested, the system detected the fire within 14 minutes, showing great prospects for the future. Currently, the device costs $49, and about 300 have been deployed. In the future, the company plans on increasing those numbers to the tens of thousands.
AS WILDFIRE RISK GROWS, CAMPFIRES FADE ACROSS THE WEST
October, 2022
Due to longer heat waves, droughts, and increasing numbers of wildfires, campfires have been banned across many areas in the west, including the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest in Washington, New Melones Lake in California, as well as parts of Western Nevada. U.S. Forest Service officials state that campfires have sparked 30% of wildfires on their land, causing a need to regulate the beloved activity. Campfire bans vary across regions, determined by factors such as weather, wind, drought conditions, and the amount of firefighters available. For many, this is disheartening, and takes away favorite experiences such as making smores, roasting hot dogs, and telling stories over a fire. However, people are also displaying their resilience, generating solutions ranging from choosing cold brew over hot coffee, to creating camping recipes that can be made without a fire, and having flashlight circles instead of bonfires.
NEGLECT FROM FIREFIGHTERS WORSENS FIRES
October, 2022
The Caldor Fire of last August had detrimental effects on the over 200,000 acres it burnt, including destruction of property and financial damage. When the fire broke out on August 14th, firefighters attempted to reach it, but it the roads were badly maintained (a job of the fire department organization), and they lost two vital hours in the battle against the blaze. Through the next few days, a veteran fire captain states that the team failed to prepare, fight, or protect the surrounding residential areas from the fire. The night of the 15th after the fire had started, the department shut down for the night, but this strategy seemed odd, as it is easier to fight wildfires due to lower temperatures. The woods surrounding the fire were a tinderbox, as they had not been well maintained. The land that was maintained privately survived the fire, and residents of Grizzly Flats, a town ransacked by the fire, wonder whether this whole catastrophe could have been prevented with more foresight. Disasters are unpredictable, and being well prepared for one is the best way to fight it.
MILLIONS OF HOMES ARE BEING BUILT IN WILDFIRES WAY
September, 2022
As climate change becomes harsher and causes more wildfires, humans are also building houses in areas that will put them in harm's way, creating a deadly situation. In the past 20 years, wildfires have increased in severity, but human houses built in fire-prone areas have also increased by 6 million (from a study of western states to the eastern texas border). These highly flammable areas on the outskirts of cities where humans are rapidly constructing have been named wildland-urban interface, or WUI for short. California, Texas, and Colorado have all seen increases in the amount of housing built in WUI regions. There are many reasons for this development: restricted building in central urban areas, cheaper land in WUI regions, and some people preferring to live with nature. This situation also makes wildfires more frequent, as many wildfires start from human causes, such as a dropped cigarette, or a campfire left unattended. Some solutions to this are focusing on adaptation rather than mitigation and using strategies such as building houses with fire-proof materials, having accessible water for firefighters, enforcing state safety regulations, and creating “defensible space” around dwellings.
CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST FIRE THIS YEAR: MOSQUITO FIRE
September, 2022
The Mosquito Fire has burnt through 76,290 acres in the El Dorado and Pacer counties. The weekend's rain has aided efforts to put out the wildfire. Causes are still under investigation. This intense fire has produced 40,000 ft tall clouds classified as pyrocumulus clouds.
These clouds are formed when air around a fair heats up, creating an updraft which pushes smoke, ash and moisture upwards. It usually appears over fires when temperatures are at the highest and are an indication of severe fire activity and spread. The clouds grow so high that they enter the higher parts of the atmosphere, causing ice crystals to form in the top layer. When such clouds get so large, they have the ability to generate their own specialized weather, such as hail, rain, strong winds, and lightning.
SHOCKING EXTEND OF MEXICO'S LARGEST RECORDED WILDFIRE
August, 2022
Over the course of last summer, New Mexico experienced the largest and most extreme wildfire in its state history. The Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fire started on April 22nd, 2022, and was only deemed fully contained on August 20th. The wildfire first started as two separate fires, the Hermit's Peak fire, and the Calf Canyon fire, but quickly merged and began to spread at an increasing rate. It burned 341,471 acres, which is about 45 miles North to South, and 20 miles West to East. About 4,000 firefighters worked to contain it. A primary difference that has been elucidated between this fire and others, is that the cause was an unfortunate mistake by the U.S Forest Service. While performing prescribed burns to clear shrubbery that was vulnerable to catching fire, the sparks grew out of control and became the very thing the Forest Service was hoping to prevent. This has stirred up controversy online due to climate change skeptics arguing that this fire was only the fault of the government. In reality, climate change is the reason large parts of the West are in a drought, which aggravates already dry vegetation and makes them even more prone to catch fire.
DEVASTATING WILDFIRE ON ROUTE 1-5
September, 2022
The route fire is unpredictable. It started as a brush fire near California’s 1-5, and rapidly spread among the dry vegetation. Overnight, from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, the fire grew over 5,000 acres. It has injured 7 firefighters, as well as caused almost 100 evacuations. Firefighters have been thought to have gained control over the blaze and parts of the 1-5 have opened back up. The area where the fire hit is around 107 degrees Fahrenheit, and insane heat waves are expected to be present in California for 10 more days.
WILDFIRES IN ALGERIA KILL MANY YET AGAIN
August, 2022
Due to strong winds and intense heat, wildfires in the northeast mountains of Algeria killed 37 individuals and injured many. At least 118 fires started on Wednesday morning and were contained by Thursday, but there were many fatalities due to how quickly they spread. The toll is expected to go up as rescue efforts continue. The fires were intensified the same way as the fires in Europe, with heat waves and powerful wind. These weather conditions are expected to increase in frequency due to climate change in the future, and these fires are expected to become common. Just last year, fires in Algeria killed 90 people, evidence of a pattern beginning to form.
AGAIN, WILDFIRES AND HEATWAVES RIP THROUGH FRANCE
August, 2022
Climate change has caused wildfires to increase in frequency, and this is currently heavily evident in France. In under a month, thousands of acres have burnt, along with long-lasting heatwaves and record droughts. Many have had to evacuate because of the fires, displacing families, and homes have been destroyed. The heatwaves have blanketed Europe this summer, and because air conditioning is not common, heat caused deaths have spiked. The heat has also deterred travelers, an only means of income for some. Thousands have been commissioned to fight the fires, and thousands have been forced to leave. Officials and leaders in the country have advised citizens to prepare for the worst, packing to go bags and readying insurance.
OAK FIRE BURNS 20K ACRES
August, 2022
The Oak Fire west of Yosemite National Park began July 22 along Highway 140 and Carstens Road, near Midpines. According to Cal Fire, the fire has burned over 19,000 acres, forcing thousands to flee, and the cause for this fire is still an ongoing investigation. Cal Fire stated that the fire has destroyed and damaged over 200 structures and more than 3,600 firefighting personnel have been deployed to subdue the fire. Furthermore, over 250 PG&E utility poles and equipment were damaged, leaving hundreds of customers without power since Sunday evening; as of August 3rd, PG&E has restored all the customers impacted by the Oak fire. While the fire went on, the Mariposa County hosted a Local Assistance Center (LAC) for community members who have been directly impacted by the Oak Fire at Mariposa High School Gymnasium, 5074 Old Highway N, Mariposa, CA 95338Fortunately, it was reported that the fire has not grown since last weekend. As of August 5, Friday morning, all roads remain open and 90% of the Oak fire has been contained.
MCKINEY WILDFIRE'S RAPID GROWTH KILLS 2 PEOPLE
August, 2022
The McKinney wildfire started Friday, July 29 in northern California. Since then, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, the fire has grown to an impressive 55,000 acres, making it the largest in California this 2022 fire season. Many have struggled to escape the speeding flames, including two individuals found in a car, having perished in the flames. It has torn through over 100 structures, and threatens far more, including Yreka, a town close to Oregon with a population of around 7,800 people. Rural areas covering much of northern California have been evacuated, and the area has been thrown into a state of emergency. Not only has this fire destroyed homes, it also created a pyrocumulonimbus, or its own personal cloud. This cloud has wreaked havoc, its thunderstorms causing new fires nearby. The fire is so far 0% contained, and firefighters are instead focusing on saving structures and individuals in immediate danger. The heatwave covering the Northeast could make this fire far more difficult to control, and it’s future is unpredictable.
YOSEMITE OAK FIRE
July, 2022
The destructive Oak fire was born in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, an area near Yosemite National Park. This fire currently has currently affected around 20,000 acres. Although the fire has stopped growing, it has been 79% contained (as of 8/2/22). The exact cause of this fire has not yet been determined and is under investigation. Thousands of citizens have been evacuated from Mariposa county. 124 homes and 66 buildings have been scorched. Over 2,000 firefighters were sent to diminish the Oak fire. Considering the rugged terrain and hot temperatures, this is a tough battle for them. Luckily, the temperatures have decreased as of late.
RAVAGING EUROPE WILDFIRES
July, 2022
Destructive wildfires have increased in frequency throughout the world, and currently this is quite prevalent in Europe. These fires are aggravated by drier foliage and heatwaves, both side effects of climate change. Since the beginning of May, officials in Europe have reported almost 2,500 wildfires located in 19 countries. These include Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the UK and others. Those in the line of fire have been forced to evacuate, and torturous heatwaves with temperatures up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit have both started and worsened the fires. While labeled a “natural” disaster, these fires are a direct product of climate change, a man made issue. Without proper combative action against climate change, these terrifying events, such as wildfires, will continue to become more common.
CALDOR FIRE
October, 2021
The Caldor Fire in Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, set a new record for the worst recorded air quality in the world! The Air Quality Index, a measure of how unhealthy the air is, spiked to an astonishing 694 in Tahoe City on Monday, according to AirNow.gov.
An AQI between 300 and 500 is considered "a health warning of emergency conditions" in which even healthy individuals are at risk for respiratory illness. AQI below 50 indicates the air is healthy and poses little to no risk, even to individuals with respiratory disease.
In comparison, officials thought the air quality in Reno at 453 was the worst ever seen. The index has been around or above 300 in the Tahoe and Reno areas every day since Friday.
GOATS COMBATTING WILDFIRES
November, 2021
Problem
Fire fuel ladder: wildfires tear through hidden dry brush
Expensive: remaining foliage requires large costly machines to remove
The solution is goats!
Positives
Do not harm the environment
Can thoroughly clean all areas of foliage
Recycle material and turn it into healthy organic matter
Increases the amount of organic matter by 1%
Increases amount of water absorbed by 16,500 gallons by land
FAST-SPREADING WILDFIRES IN OREGON
August, 2021
The Bootleg Fire is currently the largest burning wildfire in the US, and has burnt over 240,000 acres, as of July 16. The fire started on July 6, and is spreading at an alarming rate of 1,000 acres per hour. Because the fire is only 7 % contained, many communities are being evacuated.
Given the current wildfire season, there are 70 other large wildfires currently burning throughout the United States (burning a total of a million acres). The severity and number of these fires is attributed to the effect global warming has had on the terrain on the west coast. Dry foliage, air, and high winds create the perfect environment for wildfires to destroy the area.
LARGE WILDFIRE BURNS IN HAWAII DURING LARGE DROUGHT
August 2021
Firefighters have continued to take control over a record wildfire on the large island. Authorities have warned that high winds are soon to return, which could bring the fire out of control once again. This fire is most likely the cause of the continuing decline of rain in the area over the last couple of years.
THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE IS BURNT DOWN BY FIRE
August, 2021
The largest current fire in California, the Dixie Fire (see above article for more information), has continued to burn through Wednesday, endangering all those who don’t follow the evacuation orders. Last night, (the night of 8/4) the Dixie fire spread east at an alarming rate until it reached the community of Greenville. Fire tore through this small town (pop. 1,000), burning building after building. The individuals who did not evacuate are currently being rescued from the burning area. This fire has released large amounts of smoke into the air, worsening air quality for miles around.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE NEAR BIG SUR CAUSED BY HOT EMBERS FROM PILE BURNING OPERATION, CALFIRE SAYS
August 2021
A 700 acre wildfire was sparked along California’s Big Sur coastline recently. The blaze was named the Colorado Fire for its origin in Paul Colorado Canyon, and the fire was pushed to Big Sur by winds of around 50 MPH. Five hundred residents were ordered to evacuate, and the blaze is contained 45% as of Jan 25th.
FIRES BURN ACROSS GREECE
August, 2021
Other countries have joined in the effort to control the massive wildfires raging through multiple areas in Greece, burning both residential and natural areas. This adds to issues already faced throughout Europe, including excessive drought and never-ending heatwaves (both of which contributed to “tinderbox” conditions). The fires have been burning for six days, and have been across Greece. The most hazardous of fires were on Evia, the second largest Greek island, Large fires threatened both Athens and Olympia, important historical cities. Thousands have evacuated and will continue to evacuate to escape the fires.
SMOKE FROM FIRES REACHES NORTH POLE
August 2021
Satellite data released Friday (8/6/2021), confirmed a historic event. Smoke from the fires raging across the Sakha Republic in Siberia has traveled over 1,800 miles to reach the North Pole. This same smoke has over blanketed Mongolia, which is 1,200 miles in the other direction. Reaching these new “milestones” really are an indication of just how bad our climate situation has become.
SIBERIAN WILDFIRES DWARF THE REST OF THE WORLD’S WILDFIRES
August, 2021
More than one million acres are currently burning in the Taiga forests located in Siberia. Immense amounts of smoke have billowed from these fires, blocking out sunlight and reaching as far as the North Pole.
Wildfires are a common occurrence in Russia and are only tracked if they threaten civilizations. This means that many large and environmentally harmful fires are rarely brought up in the Russian media, downplaying how dangerous they really are. To heighten the issue, recent wildfires have become more dangerous due to rising temperatures (climate change).
Siberian wildfires are part of the natural cycle of those areas, but fires this large are not part of the normal cycle (and require humans to put them out).
WILDFIRES LEAD TO INCREASED COVID DEATHS
August 2021
A new study at Harvard found that increased levels of particles in the air caused by fires correlate to higher deaths from COVID-19. Areas with worse air conditions were found to have more smoke-related illnesses that leave an individual vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Other scientists have added the possibility that smoke particles can also carry and increase the transmission of COVID-19.
CALDOR FIRE INCREASES IN SIZE RAPIDLY AND FORCES EVACUATIONS
August, 2021
The Caldor Fire expanded in size overnight on Wednesday (9/18/2021), and is currently burning over 57,000 acres. In the last 24 hours, the fire has tripled in size, and remains 0% contained. It’s threatening more than 5,800 homes, and has caused many others to evacuate. The fire has grown so rapidly because of a combination of bone-dry tinder, warmer temperatures, and powerful winds, all which are perfect fire conditions. The fires have gotten so bad because of climate change, which creates a tinderbox effect. Alongside the Caldor Fire, the Dixie fire rages on at over 630,000 acres, and is also only 33% contained. Groups that have been evacuated were in El Dorado County, Grizzly Flat, Perry Creek, and Hawk Haven. Families await news about the fire’s movement, wondering whether they can return to their homes.
NATIONAL PARK CLOSED DUE TO FIRE THREAT
August 2021
Extreme fire weather in California (elevent fires), has caused nine national parks to close. This closure was an order of the state, written here. These closures include: “Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, Klamath National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Modoc National Forest,” according to CNN. Any person who violates these orders, is facing fines upwards of $5,000, as well as jail time. Just this year, NIFC states that over 4.5 million acres have burned, over a million more than this time last year.
QUICK MOVING WILDFIRES THREATEN LAKE TAHOE FORESTS
August, 2021
Families are fleeing the Lake Tahoe area because of the heavy smoke and ash in the air. The fires are advancing upon the Tahoe Basin, where most of the area’s revenue comes from (in the form of tourist money because of the casinos and ski resorts). Firefighters plan to make their stand on Route 50 if the fires continue to burn towards that area. The Caldor Fire is one of the nearly 12 large fires burning in California just this year. This fire threatens not only the welfare of people, but also the economical and political climate. The smoke from the fire has covered the historically clear Lake Tahoe, making it look mucky and grey. The bad air quality has even altered the regular school patterns. School has been postponed in general because of the horrible air quality.
Tahoe is known for its ski resorts. In fact, in schools around the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe is know as “the snow”. But the Caldor Fire threatens these beloved destinations, the ski resorts. The city that is home to Heavenly Ski Resort (one of the most popular), has been warned of a forthcoming evacuation notice. The Caldor Fire has burned almost 140,000 Acres, in just the 13 days it has been around.
SNOW GUNS USED IN FIGHT AGAINST CALDOR FIRE
August 2021
The havoc-wrecking Caldor Fire has torn through California, and has now forced the evacuation of much of South Lake Tahoe. This area of California is a resort based community, with millions of dollars in ski resorts and housing. One way ski resorts have attempted to fight the fires is with snow guns. Snow guns are normally used to make “fake snow” in the winter, and are rarely utilized during the summer. This year is different. These snow guns are being used to wet resort apparatuses (and vegetation), in order to protect them from the oncoming flames. This tactic has appeared to have worked. The fire not only has burned resorts, but also residential areas. The town Grizzly Flats have been burnt over the last week. The Caldor Fire has also jumped the Sierra Nevada Range, one of only two fires to have done so in history. Those around the Tahoe Basin area have been evacuated, but it may not be so easy. The sheer number of necessary evacuations has led to extreme bumper-to-bumper traffic jams, causing it to be even more difficult to leave. As the article states, “Nowhere is safe until we stop burning fossil fuels.”
EFFECTS OF WILDFIRES INCLUDE FLOODS AND THUNDERSTORMS
September, 2021
The wildfires that burn acre upon acre in California every year create land that is prone to flooding. These new environments tend to include less foliage and absorbent soil. These areas are more prone to flooding and erosion, meaning even light rain can cause devastating floods. These wildfires can also cause thunderstorms, further worsening the flooding issue.
These burn scars can cause thunderstorms. Three factors that contribute to these storms are drier soil, lack of vegetation, and how well the area reflects sunlight. The darker the burned soil, the more light it absorbs. These three problems cause burned areas to be warmer than areas that are not burned. The change in temperature speeds up convection, pulling warmer upwards. This air can draw in humid air in from around it, creating cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds contribute to more rain and even possible thunderstorms.
Burn scars on land from wildfires make an impact on surrounding communities and the land even when the fires are no longer present. The lack of vegetation can cause land to shift (remember all the mudslides we had a couple of years ago) and flooding to occur.
FALL COULD BRING MORE ACTIVE FIRE PERIODS IN CA
September 2021
California has continued in the trend of being the most fire ridden state in the nation. Just 9 months into the year over 2 million acres have burnt, mostly by the Dixie and Caldor Fires. Conditions have been working with firefighters for these two fires, and most danger has been averted (hopefully). But this is just the start of the fire season. In previous years, fall has been the worst weather for wildfires. These windy and dry months are the perfect conditions for large fires to burn uncontrolled.
During the last weekend, these high winds and high temperatures have ramped up how quickly fires burn. Smaller but still damaging fires have burnt throughout the entirety of California, destroying structures. Eighty - eight percent of Northern California is in an extreme drought, further contributing to the tinderbox vegetation in the area. Many state parks have been closed because of this risk (in an earlier article named “National Park Closed…”)
One of the biggest issues is wind. Wind spreads fires by blowing their sparks into the air, and lighting nearby dry vegetation. Fall brings offshore winds, some of the strongest felt on the West Coast. In order to combat this issue, firefighters have created extreme fire combat lines that would make it impossible for fires to jump.
WILDFIRES ENDANGER GIANT SEQUOIAS
September, 2021
An area of the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, home to some of the world's biggest trees, is in danger because of the looming KNP Complex Fire. This fire may only occupy only 22,000 Acres, but it could have a lasting impact. Firefighters have been preparing the Four Guardsmen area for wildfire for the last couple of days by clearing trees. The world’s largest tree (by volume), the General Sherman tree, has been wrapped in burn resistant aluminum base guard.
The fire’s perimeter is 0% controlled, and is expected to grow rapidly as wind picks up over the next couple of days. The fire's name includes complex, meaning it initially started as a couple of separate fires. These two fires (Paradise and Colony) combined earlier this month, and are now considered a singular fire, the KNP Complex. Currently there are over 400 people battling the fire, and the Sequoia National Park has been closed.
The sequoia tree is known for growing to outstanding sizes, and only thrive naturally on the West Coast. They can live for 3,000 years and grow up to 200 feet tall (second tallest tree, following the California redwood). In last year's fire over 7,500 sequoias were burned in the Castle Fire, about 10 - 14% of the world’s population. Officials are doing everything they can to keep these important trees from dying. Wildfires have impacts we don’t even think about, such as burning historically and naturally important vegetation.
The largest tree by volume, the General Sherman sequoia has been wrapped in fire resistant material in order to keep it as safe as possible from fire
FAMILIES DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM FIRE
September 2021
The geography of wildfires has changed. They didn’t used to be huge, roaring blazes tearing through towns across California. Families used to enjoy life, participating in routine summer activities. Now the land is filled with camped firefighters, anticipating an incoming fire. The mountain forests of California are undergoing this same predicament. The Dixie fire is burning through their generational farmland, destroying both their heritage and livelihood. And they can do nothing but sit with a sense of hopelessness.
These families fear that firefighters will not put up the strongest fight to protect their homes. Many of these people have decided that they would rather stay put and ignore evacuation orders to save their homes themselves. One of the towns that succumbed to the fire is Greenville. This town was wiped out when the Dixie fire jumped a highway (detailed above in a past article “The Town of Greenville is Burnt…”). Other smaller towns nearby have also suffered the same fate.
The residents that have decided not to leave are putting up a valiant fight against the fire. They have cleared dry vegetation and reworked irrigation equipment in order to utilize the water for fighting a blaze. The landscape has changed. Once clear skies are now filled with smoke and once calm people are nervously pacing, anticipating an ongoing battle.
Firefighters and citizens repurpose equipment generally used for watering plants in order to fight and prevent fires.
THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER THE MILITARY SHOULD AID IN FIGHTS AGAINST WILDFIRES
October, 2021
Utilizing the equipment and reach that the pentagon has could be crucial in the fight against wildfires. For example, their satellites can be used to track and measure the extent of wildfires accurately, so that they can be fought efficiently. Working with the pentagon has been difficult, as no policy or relationship between the two groups has never officially been put into place. But as the size and damage of wildfires has grown unbelievably over the last couple of years, the cry for help from the government has never been louder. This is no longer a hidden matter, but one of the safety of the people. Fighting wildfires is similar to fighting wars and we all must work together. The job of the military is to keep the people safe, so why not fight off a major current threat?
Fires have grown over the last couple of years, and so has their damage. Fires burn down cities, destroy natural ecosystems, and their smoke can be harmful to health. The precision of military equipment could save a whole lot, as it has proven itself superior in spotting and tracking wildfires. A severe lack of funds has led to this technology never being utilized in the battle against wildfire, but the military's extensive budget could aid in this issue. The issue is complicated, and there is no right and wrong answer, but using newer technology could solve the issue.
A satellite is ready to be sent up for testing of wildfire detection equipment.
AI COULD BE UTILIZED TO PREVENT WILDFIRE
October 2021
Wildfires have wreaked havoc across California, and one fourteen year old has come up with a plan to prevent fires before they even start. Prisha Shroff, a freshman in highschool, has figured out a way to predict where wildfires are more likely to start by tracking hotspots. This system utilizes data from NASA and NOAA in order to locate areas that are more prone to going ablaze. AI is then used to interpret this data (including temperature, moisture in soil, winds, rain patterns, and level of vegetation). After a confirmed danger area is located, authorities and fire departments nearby are sent a message in order for them to prepare. This system has an approximate 98.6% accuracy when compared to earlier years. In the future we might be able to not only fight blazes more efficiently, but also put a stop to them before they begin to burn.
Our media database includes the latest news footage and archives of past Wildfire Awareness Initiative articles. Here you will find the collection of publications and reports dating from the organization’s inception in 2000, all the way up to the present day. Check out some of our featured articles below and learn more about our efforts.
EVACUATION PLANS AND RESPONSES MUST IMPROVE
October, 2021
California has experienced record breaking after record breaking wildfire over the last couple of years. These blazes were uncontrollable, as they tore through the wildlife in perfect fire condition due to the heat and drought. Work has been done in order to improve the fighting part of wildfire safety, but some say we need to look into the flight part of wildfire safety.
Officials have come to the realization that these fires are impossible to keep in control, and that the only other option for keeping people safe is to get them out of the way. Every aspect of a community must be prepared for the sudden evacuation notice. Evacuation plans are scarce around the country, and this is worrying, as nobody is ready to keep themselves safe in the danger of an oncoming fire. Every corner of the country is different, so so should every evacuation plan. They should be curated based on the population, terrain, and mindset of an area.
It is very difficult to spread news about an evacuation when everyone is already spread our themselves. This is where social media comes to play. Officials are hoping they can harness the power of the digital word in order to send alerts about possible evacuations in peoples areas so that they are ready to leave at any given moment.
AMERICANS MOVING INTO AREAS WITH FIRE RISKS
October 2021
Because of the pandemic, the visibility of fire danger has diminished, and people are moving into fire prone areas. People rarely move to areas that have already been burned, but during the 2020 pandemic, this changed. The pandemic basically erased everyone's fear of the fires, with home sellers stating that they only had a couple people tell them about fire worries. This contrasts the fact that fires have become more unpredictable and dangerous as the years continue, setting new records every year. The impacts of wildfire largely affect the communities on the edge of fire prone hillsides, and can create costly impacts.
Experts assume that people have been pushed out of the areas that they used to live in as the population in California increases, and have nowhere to go but the areas that were originally avoided because of the danger. For example, housing prices and demand have increased in the area of Paradise, California, the city that was famously burnt down just a couple of years ago.