Why is the west coast burning?

California is yet again ablaze and this time the causes are both layered and signaling towards a future that is nothing less than shaky. Multiple reasons can be pinpointed for the destructive and lethal ongoing fires in the west. Ranging from something as empty-headed as a gender reveal party wherein a pyrotechnic device was used that burst open and has so far ignited around 10,000 acres of land to causes as serious as climate change and naturally occurring phenomenons.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California owes around 560 known fires to a mixture of violent thunderstorms in August, a record-breaking heatwave and Diablo and Santa Ana winds that further sparked and intensified the already raging wildfires. These collectively have resulted in mass evacuations, a blanket of orange and smoke-filled skies in California and Oregon and heavy destruction to property.

Climate change of-course plays a paramount role in all of this simply because as time passes, years get hotter resulting in more frequent heat waves, drier landscapes, and parched vegetation which is considerably more flammable and will result in stronger and longer wildfires. According to National Geographic, the amount of land burned across California in the summer is roughly eight times higher than in the 1970s. Wildfires are also harder to predict now as the variables keep shifting.

The Diablo and Santa Ana winds have also increased and prolonged the season considerably. A few fire tornados have been spotted already and these winds make air support incredibly hard.

Wildfires are nothing new to California but this season’s fires are the highest ever recorded in the history of the state. Out of 100 million acres of land around 3% of it has already been burned down and will continue to do so as little to no substantial relief is present. Around 14,800 firefighters are currently trying to combat and lessen the destruction and thousands of people have been given evacuation orders. 

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Writer: Agrima Chopra

#california #orangesky #westcoast #wildfires