Wildfires can occur anywhere, but more are common in the forested areas of the United States and Canada. They are also susceptible in many other places around the world, including much of the vegetated areas of Australia as well as in the Western Cape of South Africa. In the world right now, “there are 11 states currently reporting large active fires,” according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Alaska reports 74, Arizona says 11, Colorado documents four, there are six in Idaho and New Mexico, Utah reports two, and Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Texas all have one. There are a total of 58083 fires burning worldwide. The biggest country that the fires are consuming is Australia. Australia has over 100 ongoing fires right now which have destroyed 17.9 million acres of land. The fires have killed at least 24 people and burned over 1000 homes, as the website USAToday.com states. The fires in Australia have estimated to kill over 500 million animals. Including koalas, kangaroos, and other types of wildlife. In California 7,860 fires are ongoing and 259,823 acres have been devastated.
What are causing California fires? “PG&E power lines found to have caused California’s historically,” states the website DestructiveWildfires. In California, there have been many big fires like the fire Mendocino, and the Mendocino fire continues to ravage California, claiming lives and causing destruction to homes, structures and the land. It has grown to over 300,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in California’s history, but over a period of time, the world has seen fires up to three times Mendocino’s size. If the fires get much worse anywhere, many of the species that we love and the land we cherish to this day will be at risk.
By: Avery Frarer
Photo Credits: https://eia-international.org/news/watching-the-world-burn-fires-threaten-the-worlds-tropical-forests-and-millions-of-people/
