Problem: How wildfires affect us in California

       

Problem Definition: Wildfires affect the climate and decrease the overall quality of air and shorten the lifespan of earth. Global warming is continuously rising whilst our fire seasons are elongating and intensifying. Ash is created when wildfires strike up throughout California. This ash can cause many problems not only physically and mentally to your body, but also your belongings. Smoke also affects the quality of our air.

This problem is rising each year in California, having record-breaking wildfires occurring more often. Statistics show that eight of the ten largest fires in California history have burned in the past decade and annual temperatures have risen; as it gets warmer, the average area that gets burned by wildfires increases exponentially. All in all, wildfires are affecting climate change and causing long term effects on our atmosphere and way of life.

 

HOW WE CAN HELP!

  1. Clean the forest floor to eliminate waste that causes temperatures to rise and heightens the likelihood of wildfires
  2. Make sure to put out any fires when camping etc before leaving
  3. Avoiding littering things that can cause fires such as cigarettes
  4. Drive less/carpool/electric cars/public transportation
  5. Power lines must be clear of all dry grass/land
  6. Increasing the space between structures and nearby trees and brush, and clearing space between neighboring houses
  7. Avoid emitting fossil fuels into our atmosphere
  8. Use reusable energy
  9. Plant new different types of vegetation with different levels of flammability that can help reduce the risk of wildfires by absorbing the C02 in the atmosphere and lowering overall temperature
  10. Incorporating fire resistant materials in buildings and homes

 

Objective: The main solution I will focus on to help prevent the spread of wildfires is going to be cleaning up the forest floor by eliminating any excess or old trees, leaves, plants, etc. that are dead or still remain from previous fires. My suggestion is to reduce the fuels emitted into the atmosphere by ten percent before “fire season” 2021. In California there lies approximately 33 million acres of forest that can be cleaned up. I hope to help to raise awareness and reduce the increase of wildfires across California as the next fire season occurs.

Tubbs Fire 2017                                                San Diego 2020

 

California Wildfire Statistics from 2016-2020 (According to Cal Fire)

Year

# of Fires

Acres burned

2016

4,785

244,319

2017

7,117

505,956

2018

6,284

876,147

2019

6,592

135,573

2020 (updated October 2020)

7,080

1,436,061

 

 

California is ranked number one in the US for highest wildfire risk.

 

 

 

For more information:

https://www.fire.ca.gov/stats-events/

www.noaa.gov/stories/ask-scientist-how-can-weather-spark-and-spread-wildfires

https://www.npr.org/2020/10/02/919554698/california-wildfires-near-tragic-milestone-4-million-acres-burned

 

 

 

Allyson Fenk takes full responsibility for the information posted. The information on this page represents that of Allyson Fenk and not that of California State University, Sacramento.