Hershenow 1

Sadie Hershenow

Holland

+English ll

19 February 2018

Ending the California Wildfires

Catherine Barnett was fast asleep when she received a call from her work telling

her to escape her house to ensure that she would be safe. Red flames stretched across

the night sky at 2 a.m. It was like rush hour, frazzled people trying to get out as fast as

they could. Luckily, help was given to the many people who lost their home. After that,

cities wouldn’t be lively again for three days. 1No one was seen walking around without

a face mask; they were a common accessory. Many people of California experience

traumatic days like these on a regular basis.

The wildfires happening in California are an issue that needs attention.

Simulations done by Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change division, Atmospheric

Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest Utah Climate Center illustrate that there is a big

divide in fire risks relating from human activity and that of those caused by natural

climate (Yoon S7). Also, global warming is a huge factor in the wildfires California

experiences every day. These recent ones move from the countryside to cities, making

them extremely deadly and destructful (“California’s Wine Country”). The hotter the

summer, the more fuel there is to concoct fires with strong winds and extreme heat.

This past summer was the hottest on record (“Deadly Fires Up North”). As for the future,

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in 2014, studies predicted that the continuous fires would continue into 2015 (Yoon S5).

Its 2018 and there is still a rapid increase in the amount of wildfires.

The California wildfires cause death and destruction, with no sign of stopping.

This can be solved by preparation in order to save lives, as well as prevention that can

bring forth an end to global warming. On the other hand, doing nothing while knowing

this environmental issue is not the right choice.

One consequence from these fires is the continuous deaths that happen. For

​ ews says that this series of fires happening now are the deadliest in the
instance, ​CBS n

state’s history, taking 42 lives (“A Rising Toll”). Despite the rising toll, not much attention

is being paid to them. This is just a general number, but some specific families have

been affected. For example, in December, Cory Iverson, a 32-year-old firefighter died in

the Thomas fire north of Fillmore in Ventura County. He was a firefighter for eight years,

had a pregnant wife and a 2-year-old daughter (Gonzalez). This man was taken by a

fire, leaving behind the rest of his life. This is just one of many stories that show how

people are being lost, hurt, and overall affected greatly by the fires. 2When will it end?

These are absolutely a big deal, for they keep take people’s lives and there isn’t much

being done to stop that. For example, an article called “A Rising Toll” said that “in Los

Angeles, a charred body was found on Mount Wilson, where crews were trying to

surround a smoldering wildfire in steep terrain.” Many die from trying to escape the

horrorous fires, even some firefighters can’t make it out alive. If these fires don’t come

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to a halt, or at least become less severe, more people will die. Yet, the multiple deaths

are not the only thing not getting the attention they deserve.

Such as, many things are being sacrificed besides human lives. These fires take

down crops, homes, and buildings as well. The Thomas fire destroyed over 900

structures, 730 of those being homes. It was predicted to demolish 18,000 more

buildings as well (Gonzalez). The wildfires in California have destroyed things that

people keep so close to their hearts. It’s where they live or where they work; it’s their

life. After she experienced the fire, Catherine Barnett said “it is not exaggerating to say

that everyone knows someone who has lost a home” where there is about 500,000

residents. The people of California are suffering from a lot of loss that others do not

seem to know or care about. Though many people’s homes were destroyed, that’s not

the only thing. Aside from housing, insurance covered 150 agricultural equipment losses

and 3,000 vehicle losses. There was also 39 boats lost (“A Rising Toll”). California

thrives on crops from wineries, but that will not be possible if so much agricultural

equipment is lost. What people love to do and make a living off of is getting lost in the

clouds of smoke surrounding these wildfires. The buildings and homes can all be built

again, but it doesn’t mean anything if the fires can just tear them down. Various

buildings and structures are being destroyed by the fires, and it is getting expensive.

All of this destruction and loss of lives isn’t cheap. The California wildfires are

extremely expensive to take care of. Firefighting costs are estimated to have cost at

least $82.1 million with over 8,300 firefighters working on putting the fires out

(Gonzalez). The people fighting the fires have to be rewarded for their bravery, and they
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can’t insure that everything will get out of the fire will be safe. Anything lost costs

money. At least $1 billion have been lost in Northern California from insuring property

(“A Rising Toll”). Most of the property lost in the fires is insured, but the money to pay

that off has to come from somewhere meaning that the insurance companies are having

to produce so much money to keep up. Obviously, California has had horrendous

expensive wildfires before. The Oakland Hills fire cost about $2.8 billion after adding

inflation. That fire in 1991 knocked down half as many structures as today’s series of

fires (“A Rising Toll”). In comparison, today’s fires cost much more than the very famous

Oakland hills fire. Things have changed since then, and more houses and structures

have been built in places that probably would not have been taken out by that fire.

These fires aren’t stopping. It has been over 25 years since the Oakland Hills fire, yet

homes are still being destroyed and money is still being lost.

Some people may argue that the fires have to just happen and that there is

nothing that can be done to stop them because it is natural. 3The past wildfires have

always been easy to overcome; today’s, life changing. An article written by ​Los Angeles

Times​ said “those superstorms that scientists warned would result from climate

change? They are here” (“Deadly Fires Up North”). 4This environmental issue can not

be taken lightly; there’s too much at stake, but people excuse the fires like they are

normal. Nature is natural, and these fires are not. After all, they’ve been happening for

years. Today’s fires have been more destructive than past fires, like the Oakland Hills,

Cedar, and Station fires in 1991, 2003, and 2009 (“Deadly Fires Up North”). All of these

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fires demolished many structures and took lives, but the ones today are the worst. And

it will not change unless something is done. It would make a difference if there was

more awareness for them. California areas are engulfed by these seasonal wildfires that

have become the deadliest in state history, but they still receive barely any attention

(Barnett). The wildfires can be stopped, but that takes a force of change that will not

come if people don’t do not take action. Sitting back and pretending like all of this is

supposed to happen is definitely not the answer.

Another inappropriate thing that people do is pass blame on others. There is an

interesting conspiracy theory that ISIS is responsible for all of these wildfires taking

place. ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the fires even though they were eager to

share the news that they were happening (O’Connor). Some believe that because the

terrorist group made the news of the fires known, that means they caused them.

Though terrorist do enjoy letting others know what horrible things they’ve done, sharing

news on a topic does not claim their responsibility. 5A user of of a pro-ISIS channel

posted a picture of a fire and two plastic bottles of liquid; however, it most likely had to

do with other wildfires in Portugal and Spain (O’Connor). There are other wildfires going

on in the world, not just in California. ISIS targets countries globally, so there is no proof

that they caused all of the destruction taking place. That is what they want people to

believe. Members of ISIS claim what they do is for the sake of their religion. A man sent

a video to ​Newsweek​ saying that Muslims had celebrated over the extreme hurricane

season in America because they believe it is Allah sending signs to wrongdoers

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(O’Connor). 6People may justify that ISIS believes wrongdoers must be punished; the

fires are their punishment; however, this is not credible. However, people have different

beliefs and the terrorist’s view is not the only one there is.

One main cause of the wildfires is the global warming that is taking place, for it is

jeopardizing today’s environment. Many people are not treating the problem like it is.

Global warming needs to be seen as an issue worldwide. Effective U.S. leadership and

action is essential but so are global efforts (“Global Warming Solutions”). Though

California is just one state, that’s who experiences this impact, meaning that the whole

world has to recognize the problem if there’s a chance to a solution. The Union of

Concerned Scientists suggests that people need to expand use of renewable energy,

limit amount of carbon polluters can release, and reduce tropical deforestation in order

to reduce emissions put in the atmosphere (“Global Warming Solutions”). There are

ways to end the rapidness of global warming; people just have to do it. California

recognizes it and so does their government. An article from ​Los Angeles Times​ says

that “California is fortunate to have a governor who understands the perils of ignoring

climate change and aggressively pushing policies to mitigate its future harm” (“Deadly

Fires Up North”). Global warming is happening, and there needs to be a way to stop it. 7

The people must try.

Once the fires start, it is difficult to stop them from causing harm which is why

people must try very hard to prevent them in the first place. In order for the fire’s to get

so massive and deadly, they need fuel. Strong fire suppression has crippled the natural

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burn cycle in California’s wooded areas meaning there is more fuel for the fire’s to grow

(“Deadly Fires Up North”). This is making it easier for them to be so destructive, and

that can be prevented if there is not a forceful end. After a fire is started, it must be put

out as fast as possible. Long-line helicopters pick up water in a nearby water source

then drop the 600-gallon buckets into the the fire which can knock out most of the part

that is threatening homes (O’Neil). Firefighters work very hard to save people’s lives

from the fires because they care about making sure everyone is safe. Fires start and the

only thing to do is put them out which is why it is very important that they are knocked

out at the initial cause. 8Weather disasters are mostly fueled by this one overall idea:

global warming is changing the nature of the world. This is why “policy makers must

bipartisan solutions that substantially reduce heat-trapping emissions” (“Global Warming

Solutions”). Pollution is a major cause to the climate change happening in our world

today, and strong emissions of gas and chemicals being put into the air is a huge factor

in that. Fires must be prevented if there can ever be a decrease. They will not go away

on their own.
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Not only is prevention very important, but also preparation for a time of fire. The

state of California obviously knows these wildfires are an issue, so everyone needs to

be prepared when the time of one might come to them personally. Extreme fire risk is

expected to increase in the future even though there is lack of change in fire probability

and annual precipitation (Yoon S8). There is no sign of these fires stopping, so

everyone needs to know what to do in a situation where one will happen. Catherine

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Barnett said that when she was younger, her mom and her had to leave their house in

the middle of the night to escape from a fire; they reached safety at her aunt’s house.

She knew that she had to save her own life and that meant leaving her home in hopes

that it would still be okay later. Homes were built in the same area that a fire blazed

through in 1964. Plans have been made since to help ensure safety to those living in

the area (Barnett). People know that there’s still a chance a fire can take out homes, but

they choose to build them there anyway. 10To be able to make that risk, they have to be

prepared- not sitting around waiting for these fires to end.

Preparation, prevention, and an end to global warming are all very important

things that need to happen in order for the wildfires to stop. Though it can be a difficult

task to accomplish, action needs to be taken if there can be any progress through

environmental awareness. Choosing to not take action or placing blame on others are

two things that will not help in any way. The fires are causing extreme expense and

multiple deaths along with insane destruction or structures all across the state. To sum

up, terrible things are happening because of these continuous and strong wildfires, and

it is possible to stop them. People need to be aware and start strategizing in order to

make a difference. Tim Chavez told ​Los Angeles Times,​ “there’s a lot of fire out there”

(Gonzales) and that’s really the best way it can be put. There is a lot of fire out there,

and it must be stopped.

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Works Cited

Barnett, Catherine. “In California’s Wine Country, Reckoning With an Inferno.” ​New York

Times,​ 14 Oct. 2017. ​Global Issues in Context. ​Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.

“California Fires: A Rising Toll in Deaths and Dollars.” ​CBS News,​ CBS Interactive, 20

Oct. 2017.

“Global Warming Solutions: Reduce Emissions.” ​Union of Concerned Scientists.

Gonzales, Richard. “Firefighter Dies in California Wildfire, Now The 4th Largest In The

State's History.” ​NPR​, NPR, 14 Dec. 2017.

Martin, Michel, and Stephanie O'Neill. “SoCal Wildfires: The Latest And What's Next.”

NPR,​ NPR, 9 Dec. 2017. Accessed 11 January 2018.

O'Connor, Tom. “ISIS Celebrates California Wildfires Death Toll as Supporters Suggest

Ways to Make It Worse.” ​Newsweek​, 20 Oct. 2017.

"The Deadly Fires Up North."​ Los Angeles Times,​ 12 Oct, 2017, pp. A. 12​, SIRS Issues

Researcher​.

YOON, JIN-HO, et al. "Extreme Fire Season in California: A Glimpse into the Future?."

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society​, Dec2015 Supplement Explaining

Extreme Events, pp. S5-S9. EBSCO​host.​