West Coast Wildfires Have Multiple Causes

Misbar has discovered that saying lack of forest management is responsible for the U.S. wildfires is selective. It is correct, but there is more to the story. 

Wildfires are burning millions of acres in California, Oregon, and other parts of the western United States. According to the BBC, 2020 has been a record year when it comes to wildfires. California Governor Gavin Newsom says the state has seen 7,606 blazes this year compared with 4,972 in 2019. And according to Cal Fire, five of the top 20 largest fires in California's history have occurred in 2020.

The National Climate Assessment report delivered to Congress and the President says that greenhouse gases emitted from human activities have increased global average temperature since 1880 and caused detectable warming in the western U.S. since 1901. The connection between warmer temperatures and more wildfires is that hotter weather causes more moisture from the ground to evaporate, dries out the soil, and makes vegetation more flammable. A graphic produced by the National Academy of Sciences showing this connection is below.

Forest management, which includes cleaning away dead trees and vegetation either by raking or burning, also has an impact on reducing wildfires. Forest managers understand that dead trees and vegetation create dangerous and unpredictable wildfires. This is why more controlled burning may need to happen, according to Scott Stephens, a professor of fire science at the University of California Berkeley. He said: “Working to increase the pace and scale of beneficial fire and mechanical treatments rather than focusing on continued fire suppression would be an important step forward.” 

Another problem behind the increase in wildfires in the western U.S. is people moving out of urban areas and into or very close to forested areas. This is referred to as the wildland urban interface. Growth in these areas also increases the risk of wildfires. In the United States, the wildland urban interface is the fastest-growing land use type. When houses are built close to forests or other types of natural vegetation, there are two problems. One is there are more wildfires due to human ignitions, and second, wildfires that occur will pose a greater risk to lives and homes. Approximately one in three houses built since 1990 in the U.S. has been built in the wildland urban interface. 

Other forest management policies related to endangered species protection have limited controlled burning and have contributed to more forestland that is available to burn either by accident, arson, or lightning strikes. 

The increase in forest fires in the western United States is due to multiple factors, not just a lack of forest management.