Analysis of California Fire.pdf

Analysis of California Fire

Provencio, Miguel

Liberty University

HLSC 530

Abstract

California wildfires have increased in size and magnitude in the last few decades. The

encroachment of wildlands by fire in California has always produced devastating results.

California wildfires are a threat to the state's lives, property, and natural resources. Previous

studies indicate that California had experienced 8239 fires by November 11, 2021. These fires

natural resources but also destroyed more than 3629 buildings and took the lives of seven

calling the government to take measures to address this issue. Due to the negative impacts of

wildfires in the state, various stakeholders have been trying to prevent, mitigate and recover from

wildfires. The state has warned its citizens to leave before the fire starts safely. They have also

Analysis of California Wildfire

Natural disasters often disrupt the lives of the people in California. Wildfire is one of the

most recurring natural disasters with a significant effect on the lives and people of California

state. The state has been experiencing accelerated growth rates in recent years, even though

wildfire cases have increased (Klein, 2017). Economic growth has made the state extend the

increasing number of wildfires, where there are settlement areas, development areas, and forest

development, and forest.

In recent years California has been experiencing the most devastating wildfires in the

history of the United States. The biggest impact of these wildfires is felt in the Wildland Urban

reported in California from January to November of 2021. The impacts of these wildfires were

felt in the national forests, suburbs, cities, and communities. The state believed and posted that

climate change had fundamentally caused these wildfires.

According to the State of California (2021), the state has experienced warmer springs

and summer, which led to the fast melting of snowpacks. These conditions created a historic

drought in the state. State experts argued that the warmer seasons that contributed to the melting

of snowpacks led to a devastating dry season in the state and made forests more vulnerable to

wildfires by reducing the moistness of the vegetation. Klein (2017) argues that the west coast has

been experiencing rising temperatures and decreased snowpack in the last century. Klein further

argues that if this trend continues, the west coast of the United States will continue to experience

increasing growth of wildfires in the future.

The State of California expects wildfire disasters annually from July to October. Research

estimates indicate that Sierra usually experiences severe wildfires 75 days before other parts of

California considers the end of wildfires after the onset of winter rains which usually puts off

tendency for delays in winter precipitation. In combination with rising temperature and dried

vegetation, this delay creates a good condition for the spread of wildfires. Several decades ago,

the mitigation process carried out by the state officials was enough to prevent the start of

In recent years, wildfires in California have turned out to be very dreadful and

destructive. There are several negative impacts of wildfires. This includes pollution as it leads to

the emission of smoke. This smoke may contain materials that affect the respiratory system

leading to infections such as asthma. These fires may also affect physical health through water

contamination. Research indicates that the affected community may suffer from post-traumatic

stress disorder (Rosenthal, Stove, and Haar, 2021). Other impacts of the California fire include

the destruction of homes and properties, burns, loss of income, decline in tourism, and loss of

life.

Wildfire Risk Factors

The state is surrounded by yellow beaches that stretch from Santa Barbara to the great

mountains of Sonoma. The state has many distinctive features that predispose the residents to

wildfires. Although wildfires tend to spread at the same rate throughout the state, risk factors

efforts to prevent and mitigate wildfire in the state are curtailed by unusual weather. Emergency

December. Frontline (20210 asserts that wildfire season was starting to occur throughout the year

and may become the new norm if climate change increases. This may force the state to invent a

new mechanism for dealing with fire.

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Santa Ana Winds

Although many people argue that climatic change and human activities are the main

causes of wildfires in the state, wildfires differ widely in ignition type and fire behavior. These

winds predispose the state to wildfires as they average around 40 miles per hour throughout the

year. Research indicates that these winds drive the most destructive fires in California (Western

Ecological Research Center, 2021). Santa Ana winds have the potential to reach 75 to 85 miles

per hour without giving a warning. Hence they travel at incredible lengths, spreading fire.

Climatic Change

Researchers have argued that wildfires in the state are likely to intensify if climatic

changes continue to occur. Climatic changes influence fire risk factors such as temperature, soil

moisture, presence of shrubs and trees. Changes in climatic conditions affect all these factors

an increased threat of fire due to rising global temperature due to climate change. EPA (2016)

minor, it has a huge impact on wildfires in California.

In recent years, the earth has been changing due to the temperature caused by the global

climate. Since the beginning of industrialization, the number of amounts of carbon dioxide

temperature, humidity, and natural storms that predispose the residents of California to fire.

Increased rates of evaporation suites wildfire.

California I getting drier as compared to several decades ago. The state has been

experiencing very dry conditions due to rising temperatures and lessened precipitation. Wildfires

are more likely to spread to areas where the landscape has dried out. Krajick (2015) argues that

the rising temperature in the state will make the resident start looking for water. Extreme

wildfires may result from the dry climate as they serve as raw fuel for these fires. Dying greenery

coupled with hot temperatures acts as a fire hazard.

Wildland Urban Interface

The government of California has been extending the boundaries of Wildland Urban

Interface. This extension makes people settle in areas that are close to wildland vegetation.

Research indicates that the United States WUI areas have risen by41 % since 1990. Since most

of the fires result from human activities, the expansion of WUI will translate into wildfires. The

wildfires in these zones have led to economic loss (Klein, 2017).

California residents will live to remember the year 2021 as the state experienced the most

deadly and destructive fires in the history of the United States. The state government has been

making tremendous efforts to support the residents to prepare, recover and mitigate the impacts

Preparedness

Climatic conditions and the landscape predispose California to wildfires. Since these

wildfires occur annually, the authority needs to make plans to prepare the residents and make

them aware. According to Frontline (2021), Ready Set Go is a phrase used by officials when

communicating with residents from fire-prone zones. The authorities must remind the residents

that fire is not a probability but a great concern of when it will occur every year. Hence residents

are required to prepare their families and properties. During preparedness, the residents must

prepare for evacuation. Residents may also be asked to look for a temporary shelter that they will

use in an emergency.

Response and Recovery

California Environmental Protection Agency often collaborates with local, state, and

federal government preemergence during and after wildfires. The agency may conduct air

materials and helping the residents with waste and disposal. Other agencies must protect water

ash, and other materials.

If a fire has struck, the first respondent should evacuate to safer places. Emergency

managers in the state use new ports, social media, and alarms to make a notification about

simultaneously. The magnitude of some of the wildfires was higher than others witnessed before.

These deadly and devastating fires have displaced some people after destroying all their

properties. Wildfires not only render some humans homeless but also animals. These fires spread

over the land, burning more than 3.2 million acres in California. The fire spread into these areas

destroys animals’ natural habitats and the state economy.

Research indicates that global warming is set to continue, which means that we have not

seen it all in terms of wildfire. Researchers are still looking for answers to wildfires. There are no

articles or books that correctly discuss the solutions for wildfire. Whatever the books offer are

recommendations that can be applied but not on the factors that led to global warming. Some

researchers have argued that the only way the state can deal with wildfires is to start using fire.

The government needs to reconsider its prevention, recovery, and mitigation policies as what

worked in the past may not work. Government policies need to accommodate the likelihood of

clearing vegetation and create a single giant of fuel. The government should also consider

Wildfires have been changing in recent times, and the policies must be changed to reflect

to use control of fire. This is based on the fact that it is easier to manage fire in a controlled

environment. It is very hard to carry out multiple tasks during a fire outbreak. During a fire

emergency, saving of life is more important than saving property. In the Holy Bible, John 3:16