Wildfires In California

A series of wildfires detrimentally affected California this summer of 2016 having destroyed an abundance of people’s homes and leaving them subjected to evacuation orders, but particularly the Chimney fire which has been burning since August 13, and is currently only 35% contained since reported on August 23.

The cause of the majority of wildfires have been shown to be caused by human errors such as campfires, smoking, and debris burning according to several statistics and charts provided by the Los Angeles Times graphics. There have been six major wildfires during this summer that were all reported to have started on the month of August which were the (recent to oldest): Chimney fire, Blue Cut fire, Clayton fire, Rey fire, Soberanes fire, and Cedar fire. Approximately 300,000 acres were destroyed by the blaze of these rapidly expanding wildfires. The Chimney fire in San Luis Obispo

County is both the most recent and biggest wildfire to affect California this year as it was reported as still burning on August 23, 2016. The Chimney fire was burning about two miles east of Heart Castle, where crew have spent days protecting the tourist attraction by cutting several fire lines. Firefighters managed to limit the fire’s advance by concentrating trucks and firefighters in the area between the castle and the fire although it is yet not totally under control.
There are currently six wildfires still not under control in California although the Chimney fire has quickly proven to be the most difficult according to several firefighters at the scene.

Firefighters believed they had gained control over the Chimney fire but strong winds soon came in and began to expand it once again. Lucas Spelman, the California Fire Captain, stated that the Chimney fire is different than the rest of the wildfires occurring due to the fact that it is burning over a larger area that has created a dramatic difference in firefighting conditions. Furthermore, on the western side of the fire, where the fire was closer to the ocean, high humidity on Monday, August 22, 2016 the moisture in the air trapped the smoke making visibility a major concern for the firefighters. However, on the eastern side, firefighters were dealing with the exact opposite situation that was occurring on the western side. Those differences do not only make the firefighter’s job much harder but it also means that getting it under control before it causes more damage will require more

work.
An abundance of evacuation orders have been ordered to victims of these wildfires. Although there have been no reported deaths, 48 structures have been completely burned and 7 damaged solely caused by the Chimney fire. The Chimney fire is currently being fought by 2,699 firefighters, 218 engines, 71 hand crews, 7 air tankers, 14 helicopters, 50 dozers, and 35 water tenders. Although getting the Chimney fire under control has been tough, firefighters have been taking advantage of favorable weather conditions at night to conduct firing operations to secure fire lines. The Chimney fire is just one of many examples of wildfires that have affected California during the summer of 2016.