September 21, 2015

California wildfires have been spurred on in 2015 by dry conditions and high winds. Credit: © N. F. Photography/Shutterstock

Over the past weekend (ending on September 20), the 2015 wildfire season in northern California continued as two major fires put the number of homes destroyed over 1,400 . Although largely contained by Monday, the Valley and Butte fires in Lake and Napa counties have so far destroyed more than 2,600 buildings. Spurred on by hot, dry, and windy conditions, the wildfires are now the third most destructive in California history. Although the two fires are now largely contained by firefighters, at least six people were killed in California wildfires over the weekend, and the fires continue to threaten other properties.

A wildfire is the uncontrolled burning of large areas of vegetation (plant life). Depending on where they occur, such fires may also be called brushfires, bushfires, or forest fires. Wildfires may be ignited by human activities or by natural causes. The size and intensity of a wildfire depends on the type of vegetation fueling it, the terrain, and the weather. Since January 1, 2015, wildfires in the United States have burned more than 8.9 million acres (3.6 million hectares), mostly in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. This year’s fires have already burned more land than in any other year over the last decade. The hardest hit areas are about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of California’s capital Sacramento.

The Valley and Butte fires were only two of at least 10 major wildfires currently burning in California. U.S. Forest Service officials believe the wildfire season this year is so bad because the vegetation in the area has been rendered bone dry after severe drought over the last four years, and more recently weeks of extreme summer heat. Data from the Forest Service indicates that the fire season, typically occurring over the summer months from June through August, now extends almost year round, averaging 78 days longer compared to fire seasons in the 1970’s. Areas of Lake and Napa counties had been evacuated last week, but people have been allowed to return as more than 4,000 firefighters managed to contain the worst fires after midweek rain. However, the weather forecast calls for continued hot and dry conditions that increase the danger of wildfire outbreaks over the next few weeks.

September 15, 2015

Over last weekend, September 12th and 13th, California once again became the top priority for the United States Forest Service, as destructive wildfires broke out in several regions in the northern part of the state. Spurred on by hot, dry, and windy conditions, the wildfires burned through about 61,000 acres (24,690 hectares) of tinder-dry forest within about 24 hours. By Monday, the fires had caused at least one death.

A wildfire is the uncontrolled burning of large areas of vegetation (plant life). Depending on where they occur, such fires may also be called brushfires, bushfires, or forest fires. Wildfires may be ignited by human activities or by natural causes. The size and intensity of a wildfire depends on the type of vegetation fueling it, the terrain, and the weather. Since January 1 of this year, wildfires in the United States have burned more than 8.7 million acres (3.5 million hectares), mostly in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. This year’s fires have already burned more land than in any other year over the last decade.

In the hardest hit areas, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of California’s capital Sacramento, the fires consumed at least 400 homes and buildings and displaced thousands of residents. Many people had to flee from their homes with little or no warning. A separate fire centered about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Napa has devastated about 78 square miles (202 square kilometers) so quickly that it left fire officials astonished. Forest Service officials believe the wildfires, which were probably started by lightning, spread so fast because the vegetation in the area has been rendered bone dry after severe drought over the last four years, and more recently, by weeks of extreme summer heat.

Firefighters are trying to protect an ancient grove of trees in Sequoia National Park that are threatened by the raging wildfires in California. (National Park Service)

On Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties due to the raging wildfires. Because these fires are so close to major cities and towns, more than 1,000 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blazes. The firefighters also worked to protect an ancient grove of Giant Sequoia trees at Sequoia National Park. This grove includes the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world by volume.

Another Behind the Headline article

• Wildfires Scorch Western United States (Aug. 24, 2015)