Wildfires are an ordinary portion of California's setting, where the fire season across the west and California commences early and ends late annually. It destroys properties and results in causalities. In November 2018, California was faced with nearly 8,000 unique wildfires where over 1.5 million acres of space were ruined. The causes of the wildfires in California were diverse for different areas. However, the three fires that commenced in 2018 drew important consideration because of their strategic location, which was close to significant cities and spread rapidly. Although the state contained the fires, there was a substantial loss of life experienced and loss of life. California's government has plans to address the various causes of wildfires and reduce vulnerability to the population.
Former President Trump had approved a major disaster declaration for Los Angeles, Butte, and Ventura in California. This was after an estimated loss of 17 billion dollars in damages, with 20% comprised of uninsured assets (2019 California wildfires, 2019). However, the wildfires have acted as a lesson and the essence of effective disaster management systems. People in California have realized the importance of adhering to safety and evacuation procedures. The California Fire Department and Law enforcement agency have learned the importance of protocol when responding to wildfires. Preparation for future disasters has been enhanced with various departments working together to develop strategies to inform people in wildfires.
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Additionally, climate change has been blamed for the increase of wildfires in California. The risk of wildfires depends on the soil moisture, increased temperatures, and dry leaves from trees. All these factors combined have a robust tie with climate variability and climate change. Climate change augments organic matter's desiccating in woodlands and has elevated the number of enormous fires ranging from 1980 and 2015 in the United States (Herndon & Whiteside, 2018). Variations in climate generate warmer temperatures and drier settings. Also, increased drought and a prolonged fire period are advancing these upsurges in wildfire peril. The dry vegetation cover, strong winds, and lightning all are causes of increased wildfire when they combine.
In California, individual attitudes and ways of life can be blamed as a cause of wildfires. Most deadly fires have commenced due to downed power lines. An example is 2018, was that of a truck that had blown out a tire and its rim frayed the pavement, resulting in sparks. Additionally, smoke-generating fireworks caused a wildfire that consumed acres of land in Los Angeles. Human activities, such as camping, have resulted in individuals making fire and leaving it lit, spreading across the forest. Subsequently, human contribution towards wildfire has elevated due to negligence and carelessness. The increase in population across California has led to individuals living near the forests (Mass & Ovens, 2019). People who live close to the forest are likely to start wildfires due to their lifestyle.
California wildfires should be addressed by the government and combined efforts from persons from the county. The wildfires caused by climatic changes and power surges, and human activities are a significant cause. Various lessons have been learned from the wildfires in California, and different strategies have been formulated to handle the continued menace. California remains at the epicenter of wildfires due to its strategic location near a vast forest. The state should create awareness of wildfires' dangers through education programs and society members' training on measures to observe wildfires.
References
2019 California wildfires. (2019, October 10). Center for Disaster Philanthropy . Retrieved from https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/2019-california-wildfires/
Herndon, J. M., & Whiteside, M. (2018). California wildfires: Role of undisclosed atmospheric manipulation and geoengineering. J Geog Environ Earth Sci Intn , 17 (3), 1-18. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/J_Herndon/publication/328044445_California_Wildfires_Role_of_Undisclosed_Atmospheric_Manipulation_and_Geoengineering/links/5ec869cfa6fdcc90d68fa99e/California-Wildfires-Role-of-Undisclosed-Atmospheric-Manipulation-and-Geoengineering.pdf
Mass, C. F., & Ovens, D. (2019). The Northern California wildfires of 8–9 October 2017: The role of a major downslope wind event. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 100 (2), 235-256. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/100/2/bams-d-18-0037.1.xml
