Looking out at the horizon, residents of Northern California watch as thick, dark smoke billows into the sky, signaling the approach of yet another wildfire. The dry, crackling heat of late summer has turned the state into a tinderbox, and what started as a small blaze just days ago has quickly spiraled out of control. Firefighters are spread thin across the region, racing against time to protect homes and forests from the roaring flames that now stretch across thousands of acres of affected areas. As evacuation orders continue to come in, the smoke starts to drift over the Nevada state lines. Communities brace for the worst, knowing all too well the destructive force of these fires.
Between the years 2000-2018, approximately 9.5 million acres of land were burned by wildfires according to the Research Division Legislative Counsel Bureau and California’s wildfire season has only grown more severe. Climate change, coupled with years of drought, has created the perfect conditions for these fires to ignite and spread at alarming rates. In 2024 alone, the state has faced some of its largest and most destructive wildfires yet, with entire towns at risk and air quality plummeting across the region. Scorching temperatures and parched landscapes have transformed vast forests into a ticking wildfire threat. As of August 2024, there have been up to 5,744 wildfires reported in the United States according to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
“Well, I think [forest fires are] something that shouldn’t happen as often as they do,” senior Brian Price said. “The Earth is going to start heating up even more, and there’s a lot of drought, so they are really ruining the environment. It will make it harder to have forests in California and preserve a lot of wildlife.”
Due to climate change causing unfavorable weather conditions such as dry heat and rapid winds, these wildfires spread quickly. Dry weather conditions (droughts) leave trees without water, increasing their flammability. High winds elevate oxygen levels which feed flames and allow for chemical combustion reactions to occur.
A combustion reaction is a process of burning in which it is sustained by fuel and oxygen. In this case, the fuel could be human trash, dead organic matter, and/or vegetation. The reaction will produce carbon dioxide, water, heat, and light. A forest fire is a combustion reaction on a large scale.
“In the last 13 years of working in the burn unit, we never had any issues with forest fires. But recently, in the last five years, we have seen an increase in forest fires in California, leaving a lot of people displaced and injured,” Nursing teacher Maria Ortega-Polanco said. “Facilities in California were starting to reach out to us and ask if we had any extra beds that they could send patients in to get care for because they were being overflowed.”
As Nevada firefighters assist California in battling the flames, they also have to worry about their own region. On Sept. 11th, 2024, Channel 8 News reported that the Air Quality Index (ADI) in Nevada was 164-286 (unhealthy to very unhealthy) depending on the region.
“Forest fires can be both natural and human-caused. Natural forest fires, there’s nothing we can do about them, they’re going to happen. They’re important to the ecosystem development,” Environmental Science teacher Martha Horner said. “Anthropogenic, human-caused wildfires are not something we want to happen…When you start adding up the emissions that come out of these forest fires [such as] the soot, the ash, the carbon dioxide, well you end up with a scary scenario.”
Naturally occurring wildfires (i.e. from lightning strikes) are beneficial to the environment as they allow for nutrients to regenerate in the soil. This creates a fresh environment for plants and animals to thrive in. However, in recent years it has been reported that many of the wildfires that have occurred are not from natural causes. An article by the National Interagency Fire Center reported that 87% of wildfires each year are man-made. Common causes include: cigarette littering, campfires, arson, and burning debris.
“Smart people don’t just do things like dumping your cigarettes on the ground, or paying attention to electrical grids and lines,” Horner said. “If you’re going camping, make sure you properly extinguish your campfire so it doesn’t lead to embers that jump and set something aflame. Those are all things that humans can do to prevent disasters.”
As California faces a future with more frequent and intense wildfires, the collaboration and proactive measures taken today will determine the state’s ability to safeguard its communities and natural landscapes. The fight against these devastating fires is ongoing, with the hope that sustained efforts will bring about meaningful change in the years to come. Addressing the root causes of climate change remains critical, as reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to mitigating the future risks posed by wildfires. Due to the poor air quality and toxic pollutants, Nevada residents and wildlife are affected by these fires.
“It’s a natural part of the ecosystem to renew and refresh itself. The scariest thing I can say about forest fires is not having a plan, or not being prepared,” Horner said. “Evacuation plan is number one. They’re going to come out of nowhere. Know where you need to go, what you need to do, different evacuation routes, and have your valuables in check. Once the house burns down, all of that is gone, so plan smartly.”
