Devastating wildfires turn California into an inferno

Stringent timber industry regulations and large numbers of dead trees in forests could be to blame for the devastating wildfires that swept across California in the US during the past month.

According to media reports, there were about 129 million dead trees spread over more than 3,6 million hectares of forest area. This, along with the current drought in California, low humidity, warm seasonal Santa Ana winds and very dry soil conditions following a rainfree month, had produced ideal conditions for wildfires, with the dead trees acting as kindle.

Three separate wildfires had destroyed over 80 000ha of forest land last month, with over 9 000 firefighters battling the blazes that had claimed over 50 lives at the time of going to print. More than 130 people have also been reported missing.

Dubbed the ‘Camp Fire’, the inferno that raged in Northern California razed 52 000ha and destroyed about 7 000 homes. The ‘Woolsey Fire’ that raged in the suburban area of Los Angeles County destroyed over 39 000ha and placed more than 57 000 people in danger.

A third wildfire in Ventura County destroyed over 1 800ha.

According to timber industry members, new, more environmentally oriented regulations that had been introduced were preventing timber operators from harvesting dead trees in the forests. – Gerhard Uys

Picryl ABOVE: California in the US is still counting the cost of the widespread wildfires that caused death and destruction across the state during November.