What You Should Know About the California Wildfires

September to December are typically considered “peak” months of California’s annual fire season. This year we started early and for the past few years, we have seen a trend of increasingly destructive fires due to the effects of climate change. Naturally-occurring wildfires tend to spark during periods of extreme drought and dry weather. These dry conditions, coupled with strong winds, natural kindling form of dried-up vegetation, and a spark from a campfire, a cigarette, or a fallen power line can be a deadly combination. 

Wildfire season is not a unique event to California residents, its effects can also be felt in other States. as well. Oregon, Washington, and Nevada residents are no strangers to the dangers that quickly spreading wildfires can pose to a community. In recent years, UCSB has been directly affected by fast-spreading, intensely destructive fires. 

Once a wildfire has been ignited, 3 conditions must be present to allow the fire to continue burning and spread. Firefighters call this the “fire triangle”.  The three conditions are ”fuel, a heat source, and air.” California, which is known for its dry Santa Ana winds, and the lack of substantial rains have caused vegetation and soil to dry up in record numbers. This is the result of the rapidly changing global climate. 

According to Yale Climate Connections, California experienced an extreme case of “weather whiplash,” going from a record-breaking drought in 2012-2016 to a wet, rainy season in 2017-2018. The combination of drought followed by rain contributed to the growth of new plant life that has subsequently dried up by record-breaking heat levels, contributing to California’s intensely destructive 2018 fire season. And this year is shaping up to be even worse and breaking all records of fire destruction.

The undeniable danger that wildfires pose in California and other drought-prone areas has led scientists at UCSB to take a more hands-on approach towards explaining unpredictable weather phenomena. 

For example, researchers at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science and the National Center for Atmospheric Research are exploring the possible effects of climate change on the major weather pattern and how those effects could possibly impact the frequency and severity of future wildfires in California. Their findings, published in a study called “ENSO’s Changing Influence on Temperature, Precipitation, and Wildfire in a Warming Climate,” could have “implications on land use and on wildfire fighting and prevention strategies at urban/wildland interfaces.

According to study co-author and Bren School faculty member Samantha Stevenson, the paper proves that “in fire-prone places like California and Australia, we can expect future El Niño and La Niña events to have a bigger impact on fire risk in a given year.” Stevenson also added that the sensitivity of land temperature and precipitation is “due to climate change.”

The research being conducted by academics at UCSB is just one of the ways that communities are doing their part to combat and raise awareness of fire dangers in the area. 

For example, controlled burns are being initiated by Fire Departments all over. Controlled burns include permissive burns and prescribed burns. Permissive burns are conducted by the fire departments to destroy areas of dense brush that might serve as kindling for future fires. 

Although these measures might seem overly cautious, wildland fire specialists see them as a necessary form of fire prevention.

If you live in a rural area it is extremely important to clear the brush around your home according to the recommended guidelines from your local Fire Chief. Generally, The recommended clearance is 30ft from your structure and more if you are dealing with elevations.

Prevent the next wildfire in California and give us a call (707) 647-2000 if you live in the San Francisco Bay area and your mowing equipment can't handle dense brush, we can certainly help you with that, just give us a call at (707) 647-2000