The California Wildfires by MACKENZIE EVERNDEN https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt By Mackenzie Evernden en-us 2020-09-25 02:04:09 UTC 2026-01-23 23:34:36 UTC hello@padlet.com 2. mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/778102299 California has already experienced its worst fire year in documented history. More heat and wind is in the forecast and officials say things could get much worse in the state as it reaches the height of its typical burning season. Firefighters are seeking to increase the containment of more than 20 major fires that are now raging in the state. They warn that strong winds, associated with hot and dry weather, can result in the growth of explosive fires. Since August, it is reported that five out of the six largest fires ever recorded in California have erupted. While crews have made considerable progress in getting these under control, some remain relatively uncontained. One of a number of troubling data points created by the 2020 fire season is the vastness of that fire. There have already been over 8,000 wildfires this year that have burned over 3.6 million combined acres statewide, the most of any documented year, according to Cal Fire. Currently there are over 18,200 firefighters fighting blazes throughout the state.]]> 2020-09-25 02:05:27 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/778102299 3. mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783230797 The Bobcat Fire was initially allowed to run through mountains due to the lack of resources per officials. The Bobcat Fire is burning in Angeles National Forest and getting closer to communities in the Antelope Valley and Gabriel Valley Foothills. The fire has burned 113,986 acres of land as of the morning of September 25. Crews have made significant progress on the wildfire, it is now contained at 55% which is up from 15% earlier in the week. According to a damage assessment issued by the Los Angeles County officials, fires have damaged 52 buildings and affected another 14. Of the 52 damaged structures, 27 were listed as residential, one as commercial and 24 as “other.” Flames got dangerously close to the Mount Wilson Observatory, but backfires set up by crews minimized the threat to the historic site. Due to decreased winds, cooler temperatures and greater humidity firefighters took advantage of this and were able to carve out a containment line after flames came within 500 feet of the icon. The cause of the Bobcat Fire, which erupted on September 6th near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork day use area, has not yet been determined. There was an equipment issue that happened around the same time as when the fire broke out and US Forest Officials are investigating. ]]> 2020-09-28 03:38:40 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783230797 4. mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783240039 The fires have been responsible for more than 30 deaths and thousands of people have had to leave their homes. These wildfires across California are the worst in 18 years and have been burning since August. Scientists are looking into the reasons for all of these fires and suggest that now rising temperatures are playing a major role. The research showed that climate change was behind an increase in the frequency and severity of fire weather. Fire weather is defined as a period of time when due to a combination of high temperatures, low humidity, low rainfall and high winds, there is a higher risk of fire. The number of autumn days with extreme wildfire conditions in California, has doubled within the past 40 years. According to Dr. Jones, the wildfires will get worse as researchers say the conditions are likely to grow into the future.]]> 2020-09-28 03:45:21 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783240039 Short Term/Long Term Effects mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783243694 Short term effects of small exposure to wildfires can affect your body system resulting in an inflammatory response in the body and weakness in your immune system. During the fire season people are at an increased risk of having asthma and pneumonia. Some of the long term effects of wildfires are the loss of vegetation and animals that are specific to that area.]]> 2020-09-28 03:48:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783243694 Sources Cited mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783245959 #1: https://www.nytimes.com/article/why-does-california-have-wildfires.html

#2: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-24/incoming-heat-wind-fuel-california-fires

#3: https://abc7.com/bobcat-fire-burns-nearly-114k-acres-containment-grows-to-50%25/6556806/

#4: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54278988

]]> 2020-09-28 03:50:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/783245959 1. mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/786524243 Over the weekend the situation became worse in Southern California due to extremely high temperatures. Los Angeles county hit 121 degrees and Death Valley reached a possible record of the highest temperature recorded at 130 degrees. Like the west, California gets a lot of its moisture during fall and winter and because of a lack of rainfall and warmer temperatures, its vegetation spends much of the summer slowly drying out. That dried out vegetation serves as a kindling for fires, however you still need someone or something such as downed power lines to ignite a fire. So far in 2020 more than 2 million acres of land have burned across California, this has surpassed the land burned in 2018 making 2020 a record year.]]> 2020-09-29 02:47:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/786524243 Why I chose this topic: mackenzieevernden https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/787970461 I chose this topic because I have family that lives up in California. My cousin has to wear a mask inside his house because the air quality is so bad. I also care about the environment and the animals that live in it.]]> 2020-09-29 14:19:23 UTC https://padlet.com/mackenzieevernden/fv216tphqzqt5yt/wish/787970461