The Western Coast of the United States has been ravaged by vicious wildfires, causing statewide evacuation and damages. According to “CNN”, over 70 wildfires have been reported across the West Coast, burning over 2.2 million acres of land and forestry. Near Canada in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho have each faced large fires, including the Rail Ridge, Wapiti, and the Beam Road fires. But no state has been hit harder than California as they currently face four critical threats, the Park, Bridge, Line, and Airport fires. With temperatures rising and fires growing, firefighting efforts have taken over the western seaboard to combat and subdue the raging fires.
In Southern California, major fires have devastated the land and infrastructure of the state, prompting 34,000 people to evacuate their homes in response to the deadly conditions. The Park, Bridge, Line, and Airport Fires haven’t just affected the environment negatively but also the weather and atmosphere. Wildfires produce large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, into the air. These gasses, formally known as greenhouse gasses, damage the atmosphere, specifically the Ozone Layer, and are responsible for most of the damages related to global warming. On top of this, the burnt forests create large amounts of smoke, which clog up the air, release ash, and block sunlight. Looking at the weather, storms and smoke clouds have patrolled the Golden State. All around the impacted area, temperatures have also risen almost 20º above the normal average.
Starting with the largest fire of the four, the Park Fire has blazed over 429,603 acres of land in Butte and Tehama counties, making this the largest wildfire this year in California, and the seventh largest in state history according to the Los Angeles Times. It has been stated that the Park Fire was started due to arson. Fortunately, the fire has been 99% contained as it began in late July. The rest of the fires started earlier this month. The Bridge Fire, located in the San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, has already destroyed over 54,795 acres of the Los Angeles Forest. With the fire continuing to grow, it presents a major threat to locals and wildlife alike. So far, firefighters have contained 49% of the wildfire, huge progress from a few days ago. While the cause of the Bridge Fire is still under investigation, we do know the cause of both the Line and Airport Fires. The Line Fire, which has taken its home in San Bernardino County, was caused by arson. It is believed that the fire was started by a delivery driver, who has since been arrested for further questioning. The Line Fire has threatened 65,000 homes, with 39,232 acres burnt already. Luckily 51% of the fire has already been halted, hopefully limiting the damages in the future. Lastly, the Airport Fire, located in Orange County, has taken 23,519 acres of forestry down while being at 41% containment. It has been reported that the fire was caused due to an accidental spark from equipment, which caused a chain reaction in the environment.
These wildfires have become some of the worst seen in recent California history. Major damages have been done to the state as a result. Highways, power lines, and personal properties have been destroyed, leaving the state and people displaced. Furthermore, natural habitats have been lost and the atmosphere has taken substantial damage. Even though the fire continues to spread across the California landscape, we can thank the brave emergency responders who have risked their lives to slow down the spread of these wildfires around the West Coast.
If you want more information or want to find ways you can help the current situation, you can check out the National Interagency Fire Center or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for more details.