California wildfires have burned five times the average this year, officials say
GuardianJul 18
Report: California Wildfires Increased Fivefold This Year
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The Facts
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, over 3.5K wildfire incidents destroyed nearly 220K acres in California — five times the average — at the start of its wildfire season.
The five-year average for the Western US state's summertime burned area is 38K acres, with California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah reeling under "extremely dangerous heat conditions."
The Spin
Left narrative
In California, the end of fire season brings temporary relief. However, climate change is reshaping this relief into a false sense of security. With extreme weather now a year-round threat, the notion of a predictable "fire season" is outdated. Fire conditions can arise at almost any time, as evidenced by winter wildfires and fires in traditionally lush areas like parts of Louisiana and Hawaii. It's crucial to embrace adaptation, integrate Indigenous knowledge, slash emissions, and push back against climate denialism from the right.
Right narrative
Blaming California's wildfires on climate change is an easy way out when poor federal regulation and forest mismanagement are the real culprits. The federal government's restrictive policies on forest use have led to excessive fuel buildup, resulting in more severe fires. Leftist eco-imperialism ignores effective forest management practices like logging and controlled burns. Climate alarmism allows the left to use climate change as a scapegoat to cover up its failures.
