A fire broke out on July 5 just outside of the mountains on Zaca Lake in Los Padres National Forest in California and has burned more than 37,000 acres so far.
More than 3,400 firefighters have been brought to the area to fight the blaze as of Friday, and it is only 16% contained. Three buildings have been destroyed, with 794 in its direct path. Thousands of residents and several ranches are at risk if fire personnel cannot get it under control soon.
Firefighters at the Scene
The fire has been extremely unpredictable and difficult to work with, thanks to warm temperatures and winds in the area.
Five firefighters have been injured so far. Thankfully, no fatalities or civilian injuries have been recorded.
Evacuation Orders
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued several warnings and evacuation orders to residents in the area.
At the same time, the county’s public health officials sent out several excessive heat warnings. During the week, the temperatures are expected to reach 90 to 100 degrees.
The Lake Fire is Extremely Concerning
As global temperatures increase, massive wildfires have become more common, faster burning, and excessively destructive.
More than 3,630 wildfires have been recorded in California just this year, and the fire season isn’t even half over. Warmer conditions extend the season and cause unsusceptible areas to be devoured by insatiable wildfires.
Fires Are Atypical for the Area
Joe Sirard, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told the Los Angeles Times that the blaze and the prolonged heat wave are “quite abnormal for that area.”
He added that although Santa Barbara County typically experiences a mild Mediterranean climate, the area has been 10 degrees above average during the daytime, contributing massively to the number and intensity of fires.
California Is a Hot Spot for Wildfires
In recent years, the wildfire season in California has become increasingly dangerous.
Recently, a massive blaze hurdled towards a well-known tourist attraction known for its spectacular wildflowers, which was at risk of being burned and destroyed for good. Thankfully, firefighters were able to divert the fire away from the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve.
Smoke Can Harm the Environment
In addition to destroying natural habitats, decimating forests, and killing wild animals, fires also add more toxic fumes to the air.
The smoke from wildfires adds harmful particulate matter to the atmosphere that poses a massive risk to human and animal health.
What Is Being Done About Fires?
Some state officials in Texas have employed AI tools to improve wildfire detection and response time.
Currently, wildfires need to be noticed by fire trackers or residents and called in before suppression techniques can be employed.
Eliminating Invasive Species
On Catalina Island, state officials made the difficult decision to eradicate thousands of invasive deer. While it might seem counterintuitive to help the environment, the plan is actually quite genius.
The deer on the island eat most of the fresh and moist vegetation, leaving behind dry and brittle conditions, which makes the island ripe for an out-of-control fire. This preemptive technique can save thousands of homes in the event of a massive fire on the small island.
Controlled Fires Can Help
In several areas of the country, firefighters use controlled burns in hot spots to help eliminate some of the most brittle kindling.
The method helps to eliminate incendiary material that fuels massive wildfires.
Helicopters Deployed to Help
More than two dozen helicopters have been deployed to help fight the blaze.
During the night, firefighters scoop up large amounts of water and drop it on hot spots and the path of the fire as an effective method of fire suppression.
Terrain Is Hard To Navigate
Due to the mountains and terrain, the backcountry in California is extremely hard to navigate and traverse.
California fire personnel hope that the fire can be contained in the coming days to avoid any more damage to the environment and homes in the area.
