“Unconventional Wildfire Season: What’s Behind the Rapid Spread of California Fires?” | World News
A dramatic situation is currently unfolding on the outskirts of Hollywood. Intense wildfires have surged at an “alarming speed” within just a few hours. What is behind this?
What sparked the California wildfires?
Southern California is grappling with three active wildfires, the causes of which remain under investigation.
According to the US Forest Service, humans—either accidentally or intentionally—are responsible for 85% of all forest fires in the United States.
It’s important to note the distinction between what ignites a wildfire and the conditions that enable it to spread rapidly.
Regardless of how these fires started, various factors have exacerbated their growth, reducing the time available for residents to prepare or evacuate.
Currently, the Santa Ana winds are identified as the primary factor contributing to the rapid spread of the fires.
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What are Santa Ana winds?
Santa Ana winds are known for being dry, extreme winds that frequently occur in LA during the cooler winter months.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has issued warnings that these strong winds combined with low humidity create an “extreme wildfire risk.”
Wind speeds have already exceeded 60mph and may reach up to 100mph in mountainous areas—regions that have experienced minimal rainfall over the past few months.
The intensity of the winds has made it unfeasible to deploy firefighting aircraft, complicating efforts to control the flames.
These north-easterly winds originate from Southern California’s interior and funnel towards the coast, gaining speed as they navigate through the mountain ranges that encircle the coastal urban areas.
They travel in a direction opposite to the usual coastal winds that bring moisture from the Pacific Ocean into the region.
This lack of humidity desiccates vegetation, rendering it highly flammable when a fire ignites.
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The ‘atmospheric blow-dryer’ effect
The winds create an “atmospheric blow-dryer” effect, further exacerbating dryness, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA.
The persistence of these extreme winds will contribute to ongoing dryness in the vegetation, he explained.
“The strongest winds may occur at the outset of the event, but the most compromised vegetation will likely be at the end, leading to a prolonged period of heightened fire risk.”
What impact has climate change had?
California Governor Gavin Newsom remarked that fire season has effectively become “year-round in the state of California,” despite the season not typically being this active at this time of year—suggesting a connection to climate change.
It will take time for scientists to evaluate climate change’s influence on these fires, which may include factors like drought and changes in wind patterns.
However, it’s widely acknowledged that climate change is driving hotter, drier weather across the United States, which dries out vegetation and increases the fire risk, as explained by World Weather Attribution scientists.
Moreover, human factors, such as forest management practices and ignition sources, also significantly affect how quickly and intensely a fire can spread, according to WWA.
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Pic: Reuters
Southern California has endured an exceedingly hot summer, coupled with almost no rainfall during what should have been the wet season, explained Professor Alex Hall from UCLA.
“This situation follows two very rainy years, resulting in an abundance of fuel for potential wildfires.”
“These powerful winds can transform a tiny spark into a massive fire that rapidly consumes thousands of acres—an effect that intensifies as temperatures rise due to climate change.”
Flames from a fire that broke out the previous evening near a nature reserve north-east of LA advanced so rapidly that staff at a care facility had to rush residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds down the street to a car park.
