Below is a list of all fires that exceeded 1,000 acres (400 ha) during the 2017 California wildfire season, as well as the fires that caused significant damage. The information is taken from CAL FIRE ‘s list of large fires, and other sources where indicated.
Why are there so many wildfires this year?
Summer wildfire seasons are already 40 to 80 days longer on average than they were 30 years ago. Annual droughts are more pronounced, making it easier for fuels to dry out and fires to ignite and spread.
Another frequent inquiry is “Why are seasonal strong winds so bad for wildfires?”.
Seasonal strong winds are not unusual, but under the circumstances, they only serve to exacerbate the already severe fire conditions. What’s worse is that the winds have been changing direction in unpredictable ways, making firefighting even harder and more unmanageable ( Source ).
Why are there so many wildfires in California right now?
As a result, California forests are overgrown with dense brush, leaving more fuels to burn when more potent wildfires break out. According to fire ecologist Sasha Berleman, “We have 100 years of fire suppression that has led to this huge accumulation of fuel loads.
Texas, California, and Georgia are the states with the highest number of wildfires each year. About 90% of all wildfires in the US are started by humans either accidentally, or through acts of arson. A raging wildfire such as California’s Camp Fire of 2018 can travel so fast it burns one football field per second.
Then, how many wildfires are currently burning in California?
Wildfire activity was light this week, with three large fires burning in California and one in Montana. Two large fires were contained in Texas. Stay informed of current and predicted environmental conditions such as weather and drying vegetation.
Its vegetation then spends much of the summer slowly drying out because of a lack of rainfall and warmer temperatures. That vegetation then serves as kindling for fires.
This of course begs the query “How much damage did the 2017 California fires cause?”
Our answer is that the wildfires collectively caused at least $18.0 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $13.2 billion in insured losses, $3 billion in other economic losses, and $1.8 billion in fire suppression costs, making the 2017 California fires the second-costliest on record.
Is your home at high risk of a wildfire?
Treat your windows: If your home has particularly large windows, this can increase your risk of igniting combustible materials within your home. Dual- and triple-pane thermal glass and fire-resistant shutters may help reduce the risk of a wildfire event affecting your home or personal property.