The stakes during wildfire season - which still hasn’t reached its peak - have been far greater in recent years as an increasing number of homes and businesses are built in areas known as the "wildland-urban interface” (WUI). In the Arctic this can have particular potency. Photo of 1st all-female crew in Florida fire department's 57-year history goes viral. The fires that raged in California over the past two … “The one good thing going forward, we’re not expecting any wind events to push into the fire.”. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? In Brazil's Amazon fires are at the highest levels in a decade. “We’re going to have to learn to live with wildfires and the associate smoke.”. Thanks for contacting us. Privacy Notice 51,100, This story has been shared 45,418 times. California’s wildfires surpassed a grim milestone Sunday, more than doubling the size of last year’s blazes — though the fire season is still far from over. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Embers fly above a firefighter working to control the Delta Fire, in California's Shasta-Trinity National Forest, in 2018. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights REUTERS/Gene Blevins/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo. Terms of Use 45,418, © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. “The 4 million mark is unfathomable. Developers are pushing further into wildfire-prone areas as population growth clashes with a housing shortage and an affordability issue, exacerbated by the tech boom in northern California. Firefighters in California have been batting numerous blazes nonstop, trying to save millions of people and homes from the flames. Is poor management of forests to blame for deadly fires in the United States? In comparison with the destructive years which preceded it, 2019 was a relatively mild fire season. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. In late October, the Kincade Fire became the largest fire of the year, burning 77,758 acres in Sonoma County. Your California Privacy Rights That doesn’t make sense at all,” Ralph Propper, president of the Environmental Council of Sacramento, told the Associated Press. Your Ad Choices Firefighter surprises 10-year-old daughter after being deployed to California wildfires ... September 23, 2019. Although many people have started returning to their homes, more than 30,000 individuals are still under evacuation orders — including the entire population of the Napa County town of Calistoga. We've received your submission. When the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole in December to the... An air tanker drops retardant on the Glass Fire burning above Davis Estates winery in Calistoga, California. Wildfires and climate change form a vicious circle: the carbon pumped into the atmosphere by fires increases global heating, further drying out the land and vegetation, making it more susceptible to catching fire. A helicopter makes a water drop over the advancing Martindale Fire. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. However the situation was complex. FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Los Angeles County firefighters keep watch on the Bobcat Fire as it burns through the night in Juniper Hills, California, U.S. September 19, 2020. Fires have largely burned unabated as the region is difficult to access and sparsely populated. Snow melt earlier in the year combined with droughts and higher temperatures lead to drier soil and vegetation which is primed to burn. It boggles the mind, and it takes your breath away,” said Scott McLean, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, also known as Cal Fire. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts.