California Wildfire Rages in Melting Climate Crisis Cauldron
California Wildfire Image credit X.com @SprinterObserve
California Wildfire is Manmade Disaster, says Climate scientist
By Raisina Correspondent
New Delhi, January 9: At least five people have died and thousands of properties have been burnt down in the raging wildfire in California in the US. Hospitals have been evacuated while the firefighters are braving climate disaster in Los Angeles.
A report by AP in said that at least five people have been killed while more than 1,000 structures had been destroyed in Los Angeles. Sprinter Observer quoted a White House estimate, saying that “California has suffered $800 billion in damages from recent wildfires so far”.
The wildfire has also destroyed several studios and homes in Hollywood, reports said. “Wildfires accelerated by historically strong winds created extreme conditions for millions in Los Angeles. Over 100,000 people have evacuated their homes because of four different fires,” said PBS News in a news report.
Michael E. Mann, a climate Scientist, told CNN that “LA wildfires are a direct result of human-caused climate change”. “Rising temperatures and dwindling rainfall leave the land bone-dry,” he said, adding that “the situation creates perfect conditions for these devastating fires”.
Authorities have asked at least 80,000 people to evacuate from LA. Reports said that “fast-moving flames burned through homes and businesses”. “As of this evening, there are about 400,000 homes without power and more than 100,000 people evacuated because of four different fires,” said Sky News in a report.
The CBS News in a report gave an account of challenges faced by the firefighters in taming the wildfire. “A firefight with multiple fire hydrants drawing from the system is unsustainable. Air support is critical to the firefight. But wind and air visibility are preventing air support,” said the CBS News in a report.
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The region is known to be fire-prone. “There was a major fire there in 2018. The topography and the Santa Ana winds with gust up to 50 miles per hour typically at this time of year have been historical reasons for the wildfire,” said PBS News in its report.
But local reports said that the wind speed has now been seen at levels of 80 mile-per-hour and even 100 mile-per-hour gusts. “The wind speed makes it difficult for firefighters. They can’t get aircraft and air tankers to attack the fires,” added the American broadcaster.
Prof. Mann told CNN that the California wildfire shouldn’t be a subject of political slugfest but a reminder that the climate change crisis is unleashing devastations with more frequency. Sweeping drought conditions and ravaging floods have been seen as immediate climate change events in the last few years across continents.
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