Fires hit California again

California residents live the summer with their suitcases packed in case they have to leave everything behind in a matter of minutes due to the advance of forest fires. Two large fires in the northern region of the state have been burning non-stop since last week and have already reached 485,000 hectares and 1,200 houses. The uncertainty is greater this year with the development of the coronavirus pandemic that poses a paradox: the advice is to stay home but it is necessary to go out to get away from the fires and smoke, which has invaded the homes of thousands of Californians.

The latent threat of fires multiplying this time is linked to the weather. Meteorologists estimate that there will continue to be thunderstorms without rain and strong winds, which will make it more difficult for the fire to subside. At least seven people have died since the flames began on August 15 and more than 100,000 have already been evacuated from their homes.

This is the fourth year in a row that California has suffered from historic fires that devastate not only forests, but also some neighborhoods, mainly rural. Before, glances pointed to external causes such as sparks, such as electrical towers or the carelessness of some citizens, but in 2020 the fires have been mainly attributed to nature: some 12,000 lightning bolts in 72 hours contributed to the growth of the flames last weekend.

Climate change key

The depth of the problem has been highlighted by Gavin Newsom, governor of California, who assures that at this same point in 2019, 4,292 forest fires had been declared that burned 22,600 hectares, while this year there have already been 7,002 fires that cover 485,000 hectares. The thunderstorm season is not over yet and temperatures will remain high for several weeks. "If you don't believe in climate change, visit California," said the governor. Some 14,000 firefighters work to put out the fire, but Newson has acknowledged that the equipment is insufficient in the face of the magnitude of the fires.

The second and third largest fires in California history develop near the San Francisco region. One of them burns in the Napa Wine Country in Sonoma and Lake counties, where an estimated 130,000 hectares have already been burned. While the other fire, with a magnitude of almost 137,500 hectares, is registered east of San José, in the counties of Santa Clara, San Joaquin and Alameda, where the smoke has reached the Silicon Valley region. This is the second largest fire in the history of the State. Firefighters have reported that only 22% of the fire is under control.

With the advance of the flames, the movement of smoke towards urban centers has also begun. The concern among the inhabitants of cities like San Francisco and San José is that air pollution will aggravate the effects on their citizens of the advance of the coronavirus pandemic. According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, inhaling smoke weakens the immune system and makes the human body susceptible to various diseases, including covid-19. In addition, it can affect people with previous respiratory diseases.

As if the complications from the fires and the pandemic were not enough, some areas of California also suffer major power outages in which 30,000 people have been without service. Power companies have explained that high temperatures and the massive and widespread use of air conditioners have added additional pressure to the system.