California Wildfires Summer 2020 (Glendale, Pasadena, Arcadia: to live in, deal, area)

[tikkasf]

https://www.iqair.com/us/world-air-quality-ranking


as of this morning

[mgforshort]

Two conservatives, by no means friends of the governor, Republican state Sen. Jim Nielsen and Assemblyman James Gallagher countered that the cause of recent devastating wildfires and electricity blackouts is decades of bad policy enacted by Democrats, not climate change.

They declared that the excuse of climate change cannot be used to deflect from the fundamental failure to address the fuels build-up in our forests that are the cause of these devastating fires. They claim that the same misguided policy decisions have led to rolling blackouts and an energy grid that is falling apart.

[tikkasf]

There are probably several reasons for the increase in fires over the past few years, including failure of PG&E to maintain & upgrade their equipment, some mismanagement by the State, perhaps some negligence by the US Forest Service for land that comes under their purview........regarding climate change, my opinion is that it is also possible factor. The question is if that is the case, then how much of the climate change is just part of a natural cycle and how much is result of activity caused by humans ?? The answer to that question seems to be (at least in this country) on whom you ask and what their beliefs/ideology is. I am comfortable taking some prudent, measured, steps over time to decrease whatever, if any, effect humans have on the climate.......and no I am not talking about getting rid of all the cars.

[Racer46]

Originally Posted by tikkasf

There are probably several reasons for the increase in fires over the past few years, including failure of PG&E to maintain & upgrade their equipment, some mismanagement by the State, perhaps some negligence by the US Forest Service for land that comes under their purview........regarding climate change, my opinion is that it is also possible factor. The question is if that is the case, then how much of the climate change is just part of a natural cycle and how much is result of activity caused by humans ?? The answer to that question seems to be (at least in this country) on whom you ask and what their beliefs/ideology is. I am comfortable taking some prudent, measured, steps over time to decrease whatever, if any, effect humans have on the climate.......and no I am not talking about getting rid of all the cars.

They all apply, so do not expect any change for the better.

[tikkasf]

Originally Posted by Racer46

They all apply, so do not expect any change for the better.

Short term, I am not optimistic

[CA4Now]

The Bobcat Fire has grown to nearly 30,000 acres, and is only 6% contained.

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...n-this-weekend

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by tikkasf

There are probably several reasons for the increase in fires over the past few years, including failure of PG&E to maintain & upgrade their equipment, some mismanagement by the State, perhaps some negligence by the US Forest Service for land that comes under their purview........regarding climate change, my opinion is that it is also possible factor. The question is if that is the case, then how much of the climate change is just part of a natural cycle and how much is result of activity caused by humans ??

Unfortunately, plenty.

Retired climatologist Bill Patzert, who spent decades at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory studying and warning the public about the impact of climate change, said, “We’ve created this essentially 20 million-person megalopolis which creates its own heat, especially in summertime,” Patzert said. The heat is generated by housing developments, air conditioners and miles of asphalt traveled by millions of vehicles. “So the average temperature is about eight to nine degrees higher than it was in the early part of the 20th century.”

“California has always had fire, it’s a natural part of the ecosystem,” Patzert said. “But in Northern California especially, so many people have moved” too close to dangerous wilderness areas, with communities such as Paradise paying with the lives of its residents.

In Southern California, Patzert said, massive communities have been built in corridors known for Santa Ana winds, which are even deadlier in drought cycles, when vegetation is as combustible as gasoline.

“You’ve got one big wind corridor all the way from Palmdale to Oxnard,” Patzert said.

I don't know how he can say that about northern CA when southern CA is so overdeveloped, it's appalling.

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...bout-future-of

[mgforshort]

I was watching television news and a woman (supposed to be an expert on wild fires, her name is Jennifer Balch, fire scientist at the University of Colorado) stated that 84% of fires were caused by humans, and she didn't mean me and dear wife taking the scenic way to the grocery store which is the cause of global warming.

I had seen or read other figures ranging from 70 to 80 %, claiming fires started by arson, be it accidental or deliberate.

Think of it this way, we could possibly eliminate two thirds of wildfires by educating the ignorant and locking away the arsonists for life.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

I was watching television news and a woman (supposed to be an expert on wild fires, her name is Jennifer Balch, fire scientist at the University of Colorado) stated that 84% of fires were caused by humans

Yes, that was a study from 2017, regarding wildfires in the entire U.S.: https://www.pnas.org/content/114/11/2946

Originally Posted by mgforshort

Think of it this way, we could possibly eliminate two thirds of wildfires by educating the ignorant and locking away the arsonists for life.

Here are some ways wildfires are ignited in California (article from Oct, 2019):

Power lines/electrical equipment. (Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s electrical transmission lines last year sparked the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history, the Camp fire.)

Sparks from vehicles or other equipment. (Responsible for the Carr Fire.)

Arson. (Apparently rare in California.)

Campfire

Cigarettes

Call for help

Lightning...

The 10 most destructive wildfires in modern California history have occurred since 1991. Why is this?

We continue to build and live in the wilderness.
Hotter weather and drier autumns.
Too many wildfires are followed by intense droughts.

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...ildfires-start

What makes California’s current major wildfires so unusual:
https://www.vox.com/2020/8/21/213771...climate-change

[tikkasf]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Yes, that was a study from 2017, regarding wildfires in the entire U.S.: https://www.pnas.org/content/114/11/2946



Here are some ways wildfires are ignited in California (article from Oct, 2019):

Power lines/electrical equipment. (Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s electrical transmission lines last year sparked the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history, the Camp fire.)

Sparks from vehicles or other equipment. (Responsible for the Carr Fire.)

Arson. (Apparently rare in California.)

Campfire

Cigarettes

Call for help

Lightning...

The 10 most destructive wildfires in modern California history have occurred since 1991. Why is this?

We continue to build and live in the wilderness.
Hotter weather and drier autumns.
Too many wildfires are followed by intense droughts.

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...ildfires-start

What makes California’s current major wildfires so unusual:
https://www.vox.com/2020/8/21/213771...climate-change

It does seem apparent that the conditions have developed, that if a fire does start, there is a greater likelihood of it becoming a major incident