The Dangers and Outcome of the California Fires
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California has a history of wildfires. They regularly experience major wildfires that devastate the environment and communities throughout the state. The history of wildfires is of destroyed property, displaced residents, dangerously poor air quality, extreme heat, and other consequences. As such, California holds wildfires in such an important position because they can very quickly ruin lives.
The Destruction of Fire
California’s wildfires cause billions of dollars in yearly destruction due to many small-scale, individual fires. But larger fires are becoming more common. According to Frontline Wildfire Defense, Camp is the most destructive wildfire in California history. Camp burned 153,336 acres, destroyed 18,804 buildings, and killed 85 people. A power line caused the Camp wildfire. Many of California’s wildfires have been caused by small incidents.
Fire can also harm humans. After talking to a licensed EMT named Tristan, he said that in his opinion, the worst damage a fire can do to a person is third-degree burns, the loss of permanent nerve damage, and the loss of skin in the area. He also said severe burns can be difficult to treat and time-consuming. If left untreated, they can lead to skin infection and death. The lasting smoke of fire can also cause harm.
Just because the fire is over, that doesn’t mean the dangers are far from over. The longer the fires burn, the more smoke people are exposed to afterwards. The smoke created from wildfires contains toxic chemicals and particulate matter in the air that can trigger acute health problems in firefighters and civilians in the area. The smoke can exacerbate pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also lead to the development of other conditions later in life.
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Why it Matters
Despite the destruction that fire can cause, there are consequences from the aftermath of a fire. There’s the money needed to rebuild. The land is scoured; it needs time to heal and regrow the green it lost. The leftover smoke will not only harm people, but also the animals and the environment. The outcome of a wildfire can be just as dangerous as a raging wildfire, if not, it can be even more dangerous.
It’s important to remember that most fires are caused by humans. According to Frontline Wildfire Defense, 90% of fires are human-caused. A fire like the California fire can happen anywhere. California is more at risk for large fires than most places, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen anywhere else. It’s important to learn from these fires so that people can prepare in case one happens or to prevent one from starting.
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How to Prevent Fires
A big way to prevent wildfires is to be careful when working with fire. It’s simple, but it’s effective. A small ember of fire can be enough to burn a house down. Being aware of the surrounding area or keeping track of the fire can help prevent a wildfire from breaking out. Another way to prevent wildfires is to have the fire-prevention tools ready to use in case an emergency happens.
Having fire extinguishers in a simple place to grab or having working sprinklers in areas that are easy to ignite. Hardening homes against fire is important. It helps protect against fire, but also against starting them. Electrical infrastructures are responsible for half of the most destructive fires and hardening them will help prevent fires from starting. A wildfire isn’t a joke, it’s important to learn from the examples of others to prevent one from happening in our home.
