California Park Fire Continues to Spread Uncontained
Satellites have been watching the destruction from the Park Fire continue to unfold across Northern California. The Park Fire has now covered more than 560 square miles (1,455 square kilometers), equivalent to twice the size of Austin, Texas. It is believed that the Park Fire started from a burning car being pushed into a gully at a municipal park in Chico, California. The flame is thought to have ignited nearby brush, rapidly spreading from there. The Los Angeles Times reported that the individual responsible, Ronnie Dean Stout, has now been arrested.
Whatever the reason may be, these fires happen every year and, alarmingly, are becoming increasingly dangerous to the state of California. This recent fire is already the largest one the state has experienced this year and on July 30, Cal Fire stated:
“This year’s wildfire activity is 2,816% higher than last year, 29 times the amount of acreage burned.”
The issue, of course, is that Northern California has the perfect conditions for fires to thrive and spread fast within days, namely high winds, heat, and a dry climate.
Northern California’s temperatures frequently rise to the 100s in Fahrenheit (above 38 degrees Celsius), with humidity often being low. This last week has seen “record-level low moistures” that is only helping to fuel the flames. With the warmer temperatures mixed with thunderstorms hitting the area this weekend, it is possible the storms could drift over the fire area and bring abundant lightning that threatens to generate new fires.
The winds of 30 mph to 45 mph also expected to occur this weekend are not helping matters either. Fire suppression has also been extra challenging considering the fire is spreading into deep drainages and lava rock, while dense smoke is reducing visibility for responders. This is coming at a time when “fire weather” is critical and right now nature is working against those putting out the flames.
The fire is currently 24% contained and has spread to the point that it is now the fourth largest recorded fire in state history, right behind the Mendocino Complex Fire in 2018 that burned 459,123 acres. What is concerning is this fire has also been spreading faster than the Mendocino Complex Fire. That fire burned for more than 3 months, so it is imperative that this most recent fire is contained as quickly as possible, before it can become the steepest of uphill battles should it become truly out of control. Responders also want to ensure that it does not reach the levels of destruction of the 2018 Camp Fire that largely destroyed the towns of Paradise, Magalia, Butte Creek Canyon, and Concow.
It is more crucial than ever to take all possible measures to try to prevent and prepare for future wildfires. However, it does seem unavoidable that at least one occurs during the summer months. A realistic goal would be to prevent as many from happening as possible given the way climate change has raised the stakes, diminishing the possibility that they can be stopped altogether. A prescribed burn, also called a controlled burn, is a preventative measure intended to boost a forest’s resilience. Slightly thinning forests can help fortify themselves against drought and climate change, according to a study on forest structure and climate.
In terms of preventative measures, new homes built in the area need to be wildfire resistant. Wildfires are now creeping into urban areas, so it is of the utmost importance that people are not at risk of losing everything during the wildfire season. Responders—and Northern California’s citizens—know all too well that they can expect wildfires to slowly increase in severity each year.
Aaron Dadisman is a contributing writer for the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA) who specializes in music and arts coverage. He has written extensively on issues affecting the journalism community as well as the impact of misinformation and disinformation on the media environment and domestic and international politics. Aaron has also worked as a science writer on climate change, space, and biology pieces.