174,000 hectares destroyed and 337 million dollars spent: the toll of the Park Fire in California is catastrophic.
The immense fire dubbed the “Park Fire,” it broke out in California in the month of July, it is still active, although now 99 percent tamed, as reported by the firefighters of the US state (CalFire). In six weeks, the fire was able to destroy 173,850 hectares of forests and vegetation. Which makes it the fourth most serious in California history (and the worst of the current year).
The Park Fire destroyed 709 homes and commercial structures
The Park Fire was concentrated in the Butte and Tehama Counties. To circumscribe it, the intervention of 477 firefightersa helicopter, dozens of vehicles, and consequent gigantic costs, estimated at 337 million dollars.
Nevertheless, the flames destroyed 709 between homes and commercial structuresdamaging 54 others, according to a still provisional toll. But fortunately the area in which the fire developed and the measures adopted by the authorities made it possible to avoid any casualties.
Smoke from the fire reached as far as Reno, Nevada
I environmental and material damageon the contrary, are enormous. The Park Fire has burned most of the ecological reserve Big Chico Creekwhich extended over 3,200 hectares, and was used for educational and scientific research purposes. The smoke caused by the burning of trees and vegetation also severely degraded the air, with repercussions up to the city of Renoin Nevada.
They were then destroyed electrical infrastructureincluding power plants and lines, leaving thousands of people without power for weeks. It was also necessary to carry out a series of evacuationsnot only in Butte and Tehama counties but also, as a precaution, in ShastaAs of July 25, U.S. authorities had reported more than eight thousand people forced to abandon their homes, including the entire village of Cohasset. Along with the residents, numerous animals large and small size.
A Summer of Extreme Phenomena in California
But for California it was a matter of a summer made of extreme episodes not only because of the fires. The drought has not spared the American state, and in the first days of September The mercury is showing unusually high readings. Some neighborhoods in Los Angeles are expected to see temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius this coming weekend. On average, meteorologists are predicting temperatures that are 10 degrees higher than the average for the time of year. In Death Valleyknown for its extreme temperatures, will touch the 50 degreesand the neighbor too Arizona will be hit by the heat wave: a Phoenix temperatures have already touched 40 degrees.
On the other hand, extreme heat waves are one of the consequences of ongoing climate change: in the United States, in particular, the Environmental Protection Agency has analyzed data from 50 major citiesestablishing that the frequency of such waves is tripled compared to the 1960s, going from two to six episodes per year. This also requires a different way of conceiving the protection of the territory, as Don Hankins suggestsresearcher at the University of California, according to whom some practices of the indigenous communities could be effective in prevent the fires.
We are also on WhatsApp.
Follow the official LifeGate channel to stay updated, updated on the latest news and our activities.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.