California is nearing its peak risk period for catastrophic wildfires. Abundant fuel covers the state from lack of rain and post summer heat. October has historically been the month with the deadliest, most destructive and largest wildfires, according to Cal Fire.
The term “fire season” is almost obsolete for the state. In fact, Southern California doesn’t even consider a beginning and end because the risk of wildfires is so great year round. Northern California is headed in the same direction as we end the fifth year of drought.
Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service have already responded to nearly 5,800 wildfires since January 1. Cal Fire statistics show the number of fires they have staffed higher than last year, but the acreage burned is lower.
Lower temperatures and higher humidity will help fire crews attack the multiple fires burning in the state. As the weather pattern shifts to cooler and wetter, fire danger will lower.
All fires are not bad.
The California Department of Forestry highlights four areas in which forest fires actually help the environment. First, they clean the forest floor which can occasionally become overgrown.
This allows sunlight to nourish the ground and soil. Second, forest fires help clear old brush to allow new herbs, grasses and shrubs to form. Since the forest is a habitat to many animals, this helps provide food for wildlife. Third, fires kill diseased plants and bugs that infect trees. The CDF sites that more trees die each year from disease than fire. And fourth, when older trees are cleared from fire younger ones can replace them. Change is important to maintain a healthy forest. The CDF says a fire every 3 to 25 years is necessary for some plant and tree species to survive.
