Due to ferocious wildfire, The US Department of Agriculture Forest Service will close all 20 million acres of California’s national forests which means the public/ tourists will not be able to access these places. The closure will remain in place until 17^th September.

The rampant wildfire is not new to America, in the past 20 years, it is the third time the nation has reached PL5 by mid-July. Previously, nine national forests in Northern California had been closed but according to recent reports, more than 6,800 wildfires had destroyed 1.7 million acres causing National Wildfire Preparedness Level (PL) at PL5 Since 14th July. The latest scene of California wildfires was caused by rising temperatures across the western states, however, there are two reasons which have caused this havoc, the intense heat, and drought as the state experienced the driest 12 months on record according to a wildfire expert.

A wildfire breaks out in areas where combustible vegetation is present in a large area. Both humans and activities of nature can cause a wildfire. In areas where the temperature is extremely high wildfire spreads very fast. According to CAL fire, excessive heat warnings have been given in most parts of California. After a mass evacuation, it has spread towards Lake Tahoe. The roads of the entire California resort city of South Lake Tahoe were jammed with traffic, while the state line in Nevada has been warned to prepare for evacuation.

Safety measures are being taken, resources to suppress the ferocity of wildfire are being used as additional strike teams have arrived and many new firefighters were immediately allocated to protect homes and to save lives in the Christmas Valley area about 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe. 

The temperature on the West coast of America

Temperatures are usually high across the state, the hottest temperature 57 degrees Celsius was recorded in Death Valley whereas Palm Springs in Southern California reached 49 degrees Celsius and Las Vegas recorded 47 degrees. California’s Central valley for Agriculture, the highest temperature 100 degrees Celsius enwrapped the entire region.

The wildfire is not only bringing upheaval in resident’s lives but also creating other problems. The National Meteorological Service has warned of poor health issues as heart-related illnesses and The California Independent System Operator expects a potential power shortage.

Timeline for Past wildfires in Western Coast

• In December 2017, 281,893 acres of land and 23 structures were destroyed with 23 deaths in Santa Barbara.
• In July 2018, 459,123 acres of land were destroyed on Lake Menokunono. Later in summer, 229,000 acres land were damaged in Shasta trinity along with the death of two people.
• In August 2020, Fires broke out due to hot temperature and lightning strikes in California and it was declared a state of emergency. By the end of the year, 9,917 fires had burned 4,397,809 acres which was 4% of the state’s around 100 million acres of land.

The year 2020 seemed to be the worst wildfire season in California after a thunder siege caused hundreds of wildfires and burned 4.3 million acres.