Wildfires are massive fires that burn through natural woods, grasslands, and prairies. These fires spread swiftly and cause mayhem for local residents and the natural region. Unfortunately, climate change has been a key factor in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the Western United States because climate change has increased the drying of organic matter in forests. This has doubled the occurrence of major fires in the western United States from 1984 to 2015. Climate change has also brought an increase in droughts and a longer fire season, boosting the wildfire risk.
Humans are responsible for more than 80% of wildfires in the United States; the warmer temperatures and drier conditions from climate change help fires ignite and make them more difficult to put out. Drought has turned woodlands and meadows into dry fuels, ready to ignite at the mere touch of a reckless camper or a strike from lightning. Additionally, more people are building near wildlands, which extends the so-called wildland-urban interface. Therefore, wildfires have a greater impact on humans because we are living much closer to the burn site. Similarly, across the West, invasive and extremely flammable vegetation is spreading uncontrollably. For example, invasive cheatgrass, which grows prolifically after a wildfire, is one such flammable fire source. It is the first thing to return after a fire has been extinguished because the large swaths of exposed soil after a burn make an easy settling point for cheatgrass seeds. This begins a terrible positive feedback loop that is extremely tough to break.
This year's wildfire season is expected to be even worse. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were around 20,780 wildfires from January 1 to May 13, 2021, compared to 14,890 in the same period in 2020. About 547,000 acres were burned, compared with 324,500 in 2020. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent wildfires and we should all take care to keep our area safe from their effects. For example, your yard waste or rubbish should only be burned in a 50-gallon drum or fire pit, fires shouldn’t be unattended, fires must be completely doused or smothered with dirt before leaving, and hot cars or other machines shouldn’t be parked in dry grass. Although every factor leading to a wildfire can’t be controlled for, preventing their ignition is a good place to start.
Angel J The Carbon Newsprint
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