“The silver lining to it is that people who live in
California become more prepared, they’re more
aware, they know these events take place and
we’re seeing a citizenry that does get it and is
working hard to be prepared,” he said.
Numerous studies in recent years have linked
bigger wildfires in America to climate change
from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Scientists
say climate change has made California
much drier, meaning trees and other plants
are more flammable.
The latest fires erupted as a giant ridge of high
pressure settled over the West, producing
powerful gusts blowing from the interior toward
the coast while slashing humidity levels and
raising temperatures.
So far in this year’s historic fire season, more
than 8,100 California wildfires have killed 26
people, scorched 5,780 square miles (14,970
square kilometers), and destroyed more than
7,000 buildings.
Most of the losses occurred after a frenzy of dry
lightning strikes in mid-August ignited a massive
outbreak of fires.
Fire worries were developing across Southern
California, although it was unclear how strong
the predicted Santa Ana winds would become.
Heat and extreme dryness were also expected to
create problems.
Conditions were also hot, dry and windy
in parts of Arizona, where the Sears Fire in
Tonto National Forest north of Phoenix has
grown to more than 14 square miles (36
square kilometers) since it erupted last week.
Authorities reported zero containment.