The latest wildfires that have been ravaging the state of California for the majority of this month are some of the most destructive in the state’s history. With three major fires burning currently, it certainly seems like the state is up in flames. Powerful winds in California have heavily contributed to the widespread destruction and devastation in the state. We also saw these winds causing serious problems last year in Northern California with the North Bay fires. Historically, California has suffered from wildfires, but none as overwhelming as these recent ones.
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Currently, there are three main fires that are still ongoing. There’s the Woolsy Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Hill Fire in in Ventura County, and the Camp Fire in Paradise which is in Northern California in Butte County. Of the three, the Camp Fire is the most deadly with the current death count at 44 people. Subsequently, thousands of people have been displaced, hundreds of thousands of acres have been burned to a crisp, and thousands of homes have been reduced to rubble by the blaze.
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These fires are entirely overwhelming, and resources and firefighters have been stretched thin across the state of California. This natural disaster was fueled by low rainfall in the summer months, record high temperatures in the region, and powerful winds ripping through the state. All the circumstances combined have proved to be the perfect conditions for some of the worst wildfires we have ever seen.
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Seeing such traumatic events occur is heart-breaking to say the least. People have lost their lives, their homes, and their livelihoods. If you’re looking for ways to help people who have been injured, displaced, or have already lost so much, here are some possible ways to assist them:
Camp Fire
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North Valley Community Foundation Evacuation Relief Fund – Here you can donate to help support organizations that are sheltering evacuees.
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United Way of Northern California – Here you can donate to give evacuees access to emergency cash assistance. You can also text BUTTEFIRE to 91999 to donate.
Hill Fire & Woolsy Fire
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Ventura County Community Foundation – Here you can donate to a community fund for their Hill/Woolsy Fire Sudden and Urgent Needs Effort Fund to help victims.
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United Way of Ventura County and Greater Los Angeles – Here you donate to a disaster relief fund for people who have been affected by the fires in Southern California. You can also text UWVC to 41444 to donate.
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Humane Society of Ventura County – Here you can donate to the Humane Society of Ventura County that are caring for animals that were left behind in fires and hosting them in their shelters.
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While these are natural disasters, many scientists believe that humans are heavily influencing the intensity of these fires due to Climate Change. Scientists from the University of Los Angeles, the University of Colorado in Boulder, and the University of Michigan are all advocating for changes. A significant problem is that many homes are being built in areas where they are in the direct path of wildfires due to being near or inside forests. It’s up to us to take care of our world and to help others in campaigning for a healthier planet and making efforts to protect people who are living in sensitive areas. With better fire mitigation and efforts to reduce the effects of Climate Change, we can better protect California in the future.
Inspired & Informed by the following articles:
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/11/reader-center/california-fires-how-to-help.html
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https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/12/us/california-wildfires-woolsey-camp-hill-missing/index.html