 "California wildfires rage: What’s fuelling the flames of 2024’s largest forest fire in US?")
The Western United States is once again grappling with devastating wildfires, with California experiencing some of the largest and most destructive blazes in recent history. These fires, which have razed thousands of acres, are being exacerbated by a combination of human activity and natural factors.
In Northern California, the Park Fire has rapidly become one of the state’s largest wildfires this year. The fire, which started when a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a gully near Chico, has scorched over 368,000 acres (148,924 hectares) as of Monday, according to Cal Fire.
This blaze has destroyed more than 100 structures and threatens numerous communities, including Paradise, a town still recovering from the devastating 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people and destroyed 11,000 homes.
Firefighters, numbering nearly 4,800, have managed to contain 12 per cent of the Park Fire. Despite milder temperatures and higher humidity on Monday, conditions remain challenging.
“We’re still in for quite a firefight today,” said Dan Collins, a Cal Fire captain, noting that the expected temperatures were in the high 80s with around 25 per cent humidity, reported Reuters. The fire’s rapid growth has been alarming, with it doubling in size from Friday to Sunday, darkening skies and causing poor air quality across Northern California.
Why is the fire spreading rapidly?
Further south, the Borel Fire has been wreaking havoc in the Sequoia National Forest, burning more than 53,000 acres as of Monday. This fire has led to the evacuation of around 2,000 people and has heavily impacted the historic mining town of Havilah.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe fire’s spread has been fuelled by wind and a large amount of dried, dead vegetation. Kern County Fire Department’s Andrew Freeborn stated, “This fire is moving at a pace and with such intensity that individuals should not be thinking they can wait until the last minute. They need to get out of the way.”
The National Weather Service issued “red flag” warnings for several regions, including parts of Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, due to dry conditions and strong winds. These warnings highlight the heightened risk of new fires igniting, even as crews work to contain the existing blazes.
What has caused the wildfires?
The fires in California are part of a broader pattern affecting the western United States. Over 100 large fires are currently active across the country, including the Gwen Fire in eastern Oregon and Idaho, which has burned 43 square miles (111 square kilometers). The US National Interagency Fire Center reported that 25 of these fires had forced evacuations as of Monday morning.
The primary cause of these fires varies, with some sparked by human activity and others by natural events. Climate change has played a significant role in increasing the frequency and severity of these wildfires.
The region has experienced blistering heat and extremely dry conditions, which, coupled with an increase in lightning strikes, has made the environment more conducive to fires.
“This fire is surprising a lot of people with its explosive growth,” remarked Jay Tracy, a spokesperson at the Park Fire headquarters. The Park Fire’s explosive nature and unprecedented scale have drawn comparisons to the catastrophic fires of previous years, such as the Camp Fire.
How has the wildfires impacted residents?
The human impact of these fires is immense. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and many have lost their homes. Some individuals, like Jerry White, a resident of Magalia, heeded evacuation warnings due to past experiences with fire.
“I don’t want to catch fire again. It’s one of the worst pains you can endure,” White told AP, recalling the third-degree burns he suffered years earlier. He expressed a preference for the dangers of fire over other risks, stating, “I’ll take a fire over a shark any day!”
Despite the cooler temperatures expected through the middle of the week, meteorologist Marc Chenard from the US National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center cautioned that “existing fires will not disappear.” The current conditions remain ripe for new blazes, with “red flag” conditions expected to persist.
Authorities continue to highlight the importance of heeding evacuation orders and warnings. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea highlighted the complexities of managing these orders, noting the need for swift changes based on fire behavior.
Also Read: What causes wildfires? How do they spread so quickly?
The community’s resilience and the tireless efforts of thousands of firefighters are crucial in combating these blazes and preventing further devastation.
With inputs from agencies
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