Western U.S.

Wildfires: A Blazing Hell on Earth

Issue: Wildfires in Western U.S. sweep through native forests and threaten human lives
Organization: United States Forest Service United States Department of Agriculture

Sarah Trimm
AEC 4031
University of Florida
December 14, 2015

Executive Summary:
Fire has been used for thousands of years as a natural way to replenish and sustain
ecosystems. Though fire has multiple benefits, it can quickly become dangerous when paired
with certain weather and climate conditions. This year marked an all time record of over eight
million acres burned by wildfires in the United States. Western wildfires left many homes,
buildings and national forests in ashes as they blazed through the dry, hot areas without mercy.
Many homeowners, agriculturists and business owners feared for their own personal and
commercial security in the midst of the wildfires. The United States Forest Service is one
organization that is being affected by this issue. Many firefighters from other parts of the nation
are being called to help fight the blazes. Future wildfire numbers will largely depend on El Nio
patterns, weather and climate conditions. Public education and environmental awareness are
ways to reduce wildfire numbers in years to come.

Wildfires have been naturally occurring in nature ever since the beginning of time as a
means for replenishing environments of valuable nutrients and promoting new growth. Despite
their natural benefits, most high-intensity wildfires in the United States, today are threatening the
security of wildlife, man-made structures and humans (Toppo & Bacon, 2015).

Issue Summary:
The importance of fires in natural environments is essential for adequate regrowth of
certain forest species and the removal of existing forest disorders and pests. Historically,
controlled fires have been utilized by agriculturists to thin stands of trees and eliminate dry
brush, in order for dominant tree species to thrive in growth and development without
competition.
Most recently, wildfires have become overwhelmingly present in drought-stricken areas
of the Western United States, requiring immediate emergency respondents (Park, Cave, &
Andrews, 2015). Despite the diligent efforts of thousands of firefighters and out of state hand
crews, many of the large wildfires are far from containment (Sever, 2015). Ecologists attribute
the furious blazes to contributory factors such as El Nio climate patterns, high air temperatures
and dry fuels (Rice, 2015). Many national forests are being affected by the infernos as they blaze
paths, without warning and turn soil to dust and trees to tinder (Park, et al., 2015). In early
September, the Western U.S. remained at a fire preparedness level-five for many weeks, with a
count of 65 excessive wildfires raging across more than five states (Mooney, 2015c). This fire
season has been unreasonably detrimental with over eight million acres burned, nationwide
(Mooney, 2015c). States of emergency have been called for in many California counties as
wildfires are wiping out hundreds of homes and buildings (Toppo & Bacon, 2015).

Though the effects of the wildfires may be devastating to Western U.S. homeowners and
forest populations, Alaskan residents are concerned for different reasons (Mooney, 2015b).
Alaskan wildfires pose a threat to the thawing and destabilization of the states permafrost, the
frozen ground beneath 80% of the state (Mooney, 2015a). If the permafrost is thawed, many of
Alaskas buildings, roads and infrastructure could be diversely affected (Mooney, 2015a).
Though wildfires pose risks in damaging Alaskas industrial realm, residents are also highly
concerned with wildfire thawing as it also emits carbon and other greenhouse gasses into the
atmosphere; therefore, contributing to global warming (Mooney, 2015b). Wildfires are also
significantly affecting organizations such as the United States Forest Service in multiple ways,
which I will analyze in the following section.

Issue Analysis:
Large masses of wildfires have made penetrating impacts on organizations such as the
United States Forest Service, functioning under the United States Department of Agriculture.
Many stakeholders involved with the USFS include, but are not limited to: forestry firefighters,
emergency responders, home-owners, USDA officials, environmentalists and agriculturists.
These stakeholders are all taking hits resulting from the unruly blazes and dry environmental
conditions. Some wildlife activists are concerned for the wellbeing of wild animals and plant
species. Smoky conditions limit many animals from safe relocation and excessive fire has the
potential to damage rooting systems of plants. Many actions have already been taken in attempts
to contain the large number of wildfires in the U.S. Thousands of forestry firefighter hand crews
have been deployed from various other states to aid in extinguishing the blazes.
As time goes on, wildfires will continue to be present in nature. The intensity of fire
season in 2015 was largely due to the drought weather conditions and elevated air temperatures.
The future of U.S. wildfires depends largely on the climate conditions and level of rainfall in
western states. If years to come are any resemblance to 2015, the U.S. may be in a serious state
of disaster. With water mandates in place in multiple states, exhaustion of reserves may become
a large problem in terms of resource conservation. It is difficult to accurately project the effects
that wildfires will have on the environment and humans in the future, but implementing safety
precautions will lessen the potential for uncontrolled burns to start in the first place. In any
capacity, fires can become deadly if not rapidly contained. Citizens need to become educated on
the benefits and detrimental effects that fire yields, and how to remain safe in all natural
disasters.

Annotated Bibliography:
Crowe, D. (2015, September 25). The Western Forests May Be Going Away. Retrieved
December 6, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derrick-crowe/the-westernforests-may-b_b_8199110.html
Normal wildfires promote the healthy regrowth of forest species; however, over the past
few years, the forests are burning and are not regrowing. The massive extent of burning is
one of the highest statistics in history. Scientists look to the prepare for potential recordbreaking fires that are due to come in future years.

Healy, J. (2015, September 27). In Vicious Fire Season, an Endurance Test for California Crews.
Retrieved September 14, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/us/in-viciousfire-season-an-endurance-test-for-california-crews.html
Exhaustion is the way to best describe the work that western fire fighters are doing, in
attempts to save homes and wildlife in the mountains of north San Fransisco, California.
Firefighter hand crews say the fires are most likely due to the years of drought, along
with rising temperatures. California is calling for crews from different states to help put
out the fires.

Healy, J., Lovett, I., & Prez-pea, R. (2015, September 14). 3 Major California Wildfires
Remain Largely Out of Control. Retrieved September 20, 2015, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/us/california-wildfires.html

Three major California forest fires required the efforts of 8,800 firefighters, after forcing
thousands of people out of homes and buildings. Napa County Fairgrounds opened their
doors to over 800 people seeking shelter. Many of those affected express their
hopelessness for the future, in rebuilding all that has been lost. One woman was declared
dead after being caught by the blaze.

Mooney, C. (2015a, July 26). Alaskas terrifying wildfire season and what it says about climate
change. Retrieved September 26, 2015, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/07/26/alaskasterrifying-wildfire-season-and-what-it-says-about-climate-change/

Alaska's 2015 fire season is claimed to be the state's worst in history, with nearly 5,000
acres burned. The state's forests make up 17% of the nation's total. Scientists are
concerned most of all that the fires will hasten the thawing of carbon-containing
permafrost, thereby releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Mooney, C. (2015b, October 20). Scientists confirm that Alaskan wildfires could make global
warming worse. Retrieved November 1, 2015, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/20/scientistsconfirm-fears-that-alaskan-wildfires-could-make-global-warming-worse/
Scientists are doing research to potentially link wildfires in Alaska with increasing rates
of climate change. Supporting evidence suggests that carbon dioxide emissions are
harming the atmosphere. Alaskan black spruce forests burned this year, creating more
concerns on this issue. Solutions are being looked at to prevent fires from releasing large
amounts of precious carbon resources.

Mooney, C. (2015c, September 2). Wildfires have now burned a massive 8 million acres across
the U.S. Retrieved September 5, 2015, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/09/01/wildfireshave-now-burned-a-massive-8-million-acres-across-the-u-s-this-year/
The west coast of the United States remains ablaze as the National Inter-agency Fire
Center names the current burned acreage across America at over 8 million. The U.S. has
been held at a wildfire preparedness level of five, the highest level, since August 13,
2015. The impact that these fires have on the surrounding wildlife and human living is
extreme.

Park, H., Cave, D., & Andrews, W. (2015, July 14). After Years of Drought, Wildfires Rage in
California. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/15/us/california-fire-seasondrought.html?_r=0
The Lake Fire, a wildfire in southern California, started on July 17, 2015, due to drought
conditions. Masses of national forests in the area have been consumed as a result of the
blaze. This threatening wildfire is one of over 3,300 recorded in the state of California
over the past five years. Water supply is in high demand as the California Forest Service
aims to extinguish the flames.

Quinn, S., Schwartz, D., Sebens, S., & Johnson, E. M. (2015, June 18). Crews battle wildfires
raging across four Western U.S. states. Retrieved December 6, 2015, from
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-wildfires-idUSKBN0OY2L020150618

More than 1,000 people evacuated their homes in West Coast states due to growing
wildfire blazes. California, Oregon, Alaska and Arizona are among the state affected.
These states have been highly impacted by the increased temperatures and high-risk
drought conditions. Over 100 structures in Alaska were destroyed by the fires. Oregon's
fire officials are urging residents to stop smoking in vehicles, starting camp fires and
igniting fireworks.

Rice, D. (2015, July 27). Scorched earth: U.S. wildfires near record level. Retrieved December
02, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/07/23/scorched-earth-uswildfires-near-record-level/30579279/
There are currently 18 wildfires burning in seven different states across the nation. The
combination of excessive heat and moisture-starved vegetation have been credited with
starting the blazes. Twelve of California's 20 largest fire have started since the year 2000.
Fire officials in California continue to fight to extinguish the fires so that residents can
feel at ease once again.

Sever, C. (2015, April 19). Wildfire threatens 300 homes amid California drought - CNN.com.
Retrieved December 06, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/19/us/californiawildfire-riverside-highway/index.html

Just east of Los Angeles, California, in Riverside County, the "Highway Fire" is
threatening over 300 acres. This fire is in danger of destroying 300 homes, as well. Many
residents of the area are concerned for their own personal safety and the security of their
homes. The aggressive fire shows little hope of slowing down as it is only 15%
contained.

Smith, J. E. (2015, November 8). Wildfire risk to rise by six times, study says. Retrieved
December 6, 2015, from
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/nov/08/wildfires-california-climatechange-yoon-gillies/
Scientists predict that global warming will worsen the trend of raging wildfires
significantly in coming decades. On average, California experiences ten days of "extreme
fire risk" weather conditions. New studies expect that number to soar to approximately 60
days per year in the future. Education on fire prevention techniques is one way to help
decrease the devastating flames from igniting in the first place.

Toppo, G., & Bacon, J. (2015, September 14). One dead, hundreds of North Carolina homes
burn in wildfires. Retrieved December 02, 2015, from
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/14/one-dead-up-1000-northerncalifornia-homes-burn-wildfires/72248848/

Due to severe drought conditions, Northern California is experiencing the effects of a

dozen wildfires. These fires are responsible for the confirmed death of one, among many
who have not yet been accounted for. As the fire containment rate is low, many structures
have been destroyed and people are losing hope in the midst of emergency.