California Wildfires (October 2007)
Causes of wildfires generally:
- Around 80% of wildfires in the US are caused by
unattended campfires, burning of debris,
equipment malfunctions, intentional arson or
discarded cigarettes.
- However, the wildfires in California are more frequent due
to the state being a hazard hotspot.
- Meaning natural hazards e.g. wildfires happen very
frequently in the same areas.
- With California having a hot climate and 35% of its state
being pine forest, the risk of having a wildfire event is
extremely high, especially during drought periods.
- Climate change also increases the risk of wildfires due to
the fact that the climate temperatures are even hotter
than they were before, therefore making wildfires more
frequent and harder to prevent.
Causes (Cases Study):
- Causes of the wildfire included:
o Extreme heat and strong Santa Ana winds with gusts
reaching 85mph
o Downed power lines
o Vehicles fires
Short term effects:
- Fires force approx.
1,000,000 people to
evacuate their
homes.
- 9 people died directly
from the fire.
- 85 were injured.
- Over 1800 homes
were destroyed
Causes of wildfires generally:
- Around 80% of wildfires in the US are caused by
unattended campfires, burning of debris,
equipment malfunctions, intentional arson or
discarded cigarettes.
- However, the wildfires in California are more frequent due
to the state being a hazard hotspot.
- Meaning natural hazards e.g. wildfires happen very
frequently in the same areas.
- With California having a hot climate and 35% of its state
being pine forest, the risk of having a wildfire event is
extremely high, especially during drought periods.
- Climate change also increases the risk of wildfires due to
the fact that the climate temperatures are even hotter
than they were before, therefore making wildfires more
frequent and harder to prevent.
Causes (Cases Study):
- Causes of the wildfire included:
o Extreme heat and strong Santa Ana winds with gusts
reaching 85mph
o Downed power lines
o Vehicles fires
Short term effects:
- Fires force approx.
1,000,000 people to
evacuate their
homes.
- 9 people died directly
from the fire.
- 85 were injured.
- Over 1800 homes
were destroyed
