Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity across the world, found a May 2023 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of 38 countries. Image:Mike Newbry,CC BY
How to prevent wildfires from starting It’s crucial to first determine your level of risk. Risk maps, drawn by California state scientists, are created using a computerized model that considers multiple factors including terrain and vegetation, as well as past fires. Risk maps are availablehere....
Collectively, the damage from fires continues to grow, and so are the Southern California containment efforts. As these blazes spread, it is a stark reminder of how unpredictable and deadly wildfires can be. What Should You Prepare Before a Wildfire Starts? As the stark reality of the Los Ang...
While we often look at wildfires as being destructive, many wildfires are actually beneficial. Some wildfires burn the underbrush of a forest, which can prevent a larger fire that might result if the brush were allowed to accumulate for a long time. Wildfires can also benefit plant growth by...
The Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans for residents in California who lost their homes to the wildfires. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference on recovery efforts as more strong winds threaten the region.Jan 15, 2025...
Climate changeis a driving factor of California wildfires, but so is abuild-up of excess fuels. That’s often attributed to a century of fire suppression dating back to the era of the Great Fire of 1910. But what experts say is often missing from this conversation is the racist removal ...
Forest management and biomass markets needed to help prevent forest fires In the United States (US), there have been around 1.5 million wildfires since 2000, burning an average of 7 million acres annually – more than double the 3.3 million acres destroyed by wildfires each year in the 1990s....
These three ingredients form in different ways to start a wildfire. The causes of a wildfire can be either of the two–manmade or natural. The main causes of wildfires are: Lightning This is one of the main culprits behind wildfires, and causes the most area burned of any type of wildfi...
MORE: LA wildfire victims: What we know about those killed As the wildfires continue to burn, the National Weather Service issues another red flag warning for fire danger in Southern California through Jan. 15, with high winds again in the forecast. Power shutoffs in evacuated areas will rema...
Many communities, including several in California, have warning alert systems that allow residents to sign up for push notifications to their phones or email. FEMA has an app that provides real-time alerts, and public safety agencies can also push alerts to television, radio and wireless devices...