Why are forest fires in California so bad this time around?

The California wildfires have burned a lot more ground this year in 2017, one of the most destructive in the state's history. (Reuters)

California is suffering the consequences of the most devastating wildfire in its history. After a prolonged dry season, powerful winds swept the flames in the heavenly city of Northern California. Until Thursday, 56 bodies had been found and 130 people missing. The fire destroyed thousands of homes on 55,000 acres, including those of Hollywood celebrities Miley Cyrus and Gerard Butler, in addition to having partially damaged that of Guillermo del Toro. California has always been subject to forest fires every dry season. What made the forest fire particularly severe this time? According to President Donald Trump, it is the result of poor management of the forest. Scientists cited in various publications, however, have made the link with climate change.

The Trump Forest

tweeted last week: "There is no reason for these mbadive, deadly and expensive forest fires in California except forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given every year, with so many lives lost, all because of poor forest management. Remedy now or more payments from the Fed!

A Reuters report says the tweet has shone the spotlight on California's increasingly dry and invasive forests, which he described as real powders. Reuters describes the findings of this year's Little Hoover Commission, an independent monitoring agency, whose report set out recommendations such as the increase in prescribed burning and the allocation of funds and jobs to forest management.

Reuters also cited a report by the US Forest Service, which found that federal and state restrictions had resulted in more than a 70 percent cut in the California timber harvest between the late 1980s. 1980 and 2012.

Climate

Those who attribute forest fire to climate change argue that recent years have produced record temperatures, earlier spring and less reliable rainfall. Population growth is another factor. The New York Times describes a 2015 study by geoscientist Fengpeng Sun and colleagues that suggests California has two fire seasons. One, from June to September, is driven by the warmer and drier weather prevailing in western California. The other, from October to April, is caused by strong gusts called the Santa Ana winds in southern California; these spread three times faster and move closer to urban areas. Researchers believe that wetlands and woodlands are the most exposed to forest fires when conditions in these areas become increasingly dry and warmer, says the Union of Concerned Scientists of the United States in a web article.

For all the latest information, download Indian Express App