Pace of California Wildfires ‘Much Worse’ than in 2020.

The number of wildfires and amount of land burned California so far in 2021 is much greater than in the same period in disastrous 2020.  Remember 2020…when the fucking sky turned orange?

Photo by Marcell Turner

in January 1, 2021 through July 4, 2021 there were 3,856 fires, with 18,499 acres burned according to Cal Fire, while in the same time period last year January 1, 2020 through July 4, 2020 there were only 3,297 fires, and 25,901 burned.

By the end of 2020, a total of 9,917 wildfires had charred a record 6,653 square miles and damaged or destroyed 10,488 structures. Thirty-three people were killed.

What does this mean?  It means the worse is most likely yet to come.

#RedFlagWarning in effect today in Northern California due to gusty winds and low humidity. This is #CriticalFireWeather so use caution outdoors. More tips: https://t.co/upBwccxXFO pic.twitter.com/w0AGpuIxkM

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 7, 2021

Much of California is classified as being in extreme or exceptional drought. After a dry winter and early heat waves, the landscape is covered in extremely dry vegetation.

History of CA wildfire locations

Two of the three large wildfires burning for more than a week in the state’s far north were more than 70% contained Wednesday while the stubborn Salt Fire north of Redding was 25% surrounded. A big fire in northern Los Angeles County was 88% contained.

If you haven’t gotten an air purifier for your house yet, do it now.  Once the fires start they sell out quickly.  If you live in a fire threatened area, be prepared.  Visit https://www.readyforwildfire.org/.