Blazes spread faster in an increasingly hot world.
Pixabay
California is currently experiencing its largest fire on record, but you're not alone if you feel like you've heard this story before. The state is so parched that massive fires pop up all the time, and climate change isn’t helping. In the last few years huge swaths have dried up, burst into flames, and left blackened land behind.
Right now there are 18 wildfires actively burning, and 14,000 firefighters attempting to control them. Between January and August of 2017, nearly 350 square miles burned. This year, it’s nearly a thousand. It’s the worst fire season since 2008, and we’re barely even at the peak.
Most of California’s hottest fires have burned since 2000—13 out of 20 total—as higher temperatures have made wildfires increasingly likely and destructive. Just in the last five years, this is how much of the state has gone up in flames:
Much of California has been on fire recently.
Infographic by Sara Chodosh
“California is built to burn, and burn explosively,” Stephen Pyne, a fire historian and professor at Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences, told Popular Science. The dry heat, the droughts, the expanses of land that actually rely on regular wildfires to regenerate—it’s a deadly recipe.
Of course, it’s not just the west coast. Wildfires burned all over the world last year. South Africa, New Zealand, Russia, Canada, and Brazil were all ablaze at various points.
The current Mendocino Complex fire will hopefully be contained by August 15, at least according to current estimates. But it certainly won’t be the last fire to rage through California. If you’re in the vicinity or in a fire-prone area, you should check out these tips to stay safe. Unfortunately, global warming will make it harder and harder to prevent and contain fires—we’re in for a lot more burning.
Want more news like this?
Sign up to receive our weekly email newsletter and never miss an update!
By submitting above, you agree to
Latest Content
You can appeal when your social media content gets taken down, but you need to know where to look.
By Stan Horaczek posted Jul 20th, 2018
If you think your social media post shouldn't have been removed, you have options.
Nobody is making sure the kids are alright.
By Kat Eschner posted Aug 10th, 2018
A new study shows adolescent health programs in low-income countries receive just 1.6 percent of the funding that comes from the international community.
popsci shop
The perfect launchpad for any creative career.
By Stack Commerce posted Aug 10th, 2018
Name your price on 100 hours of Adobe CC training, the perfect launchpad for any creative career.
The "blue screen of death" is taking on a whole new meaning.
By Eleanor Cummins posted Aug 10th, 2018
A new study shows the process by which blue light can lead to eye disease like macular degeneration. How will the consumer technology industry respond?
The end-of-week dispatch from PopSci's commerce editor. Vol. 53.
By Billy Cadden posted Aug 10th, 2018
My job is to find cool stuff. Throughout the week I spend hours scouring the web for things that are ingenious or clever or ridiculously cheap.
You see stars. They see worrying signs of confusion.
By Eleanor Cummins posted Aug 10th, 2018
Design experts say the new Space Force logos are derivative, trendy, and confused, much like the Space Force itself.
By Stefanie Waldek posted Aug 10th, 2018
Just like beachgoers looking to get a tan, NASA has its own date with the Sun this summer. On August 11, the agency will launch the Parker Solar Probe on a seven-year…
Disconnect and relax.
By David Nield posted Aug 10th, 2018
You're heading into the wild blue yonder—and you don't want to take your work, social media, and communication responsibilities with you. Here's how to truly…