Monday, April 27, 2015

California Drought Drives an 'Explosive,' Longer Wildfire Season



There was a time when fire season in California started around May and went through September. Now, thanks to a drought that's stretching into its fourth year, the state seems to have become a year-round tinderbox.
The long running drought has "created explosive fire conditions," said Mike Mohler, a fire captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). "Five years ago without a drought in California you would still get wildland fires. But the vegetation wouldn't burn as quickly. Now there's zero moisture and you get explosive fire growth."
The drought has fed into a trend that's been developing for over the past decade, said Daniel Berlant, chief of public information for CAL FIRE.

Since 2000 we've been seeing larger and more damaging fires," he said. "What we're seeing now is that the rain is starting later and stopping much earlier. The fires are burning at explosive speed because the vegetation is so dry and that allows them to get much larger."
It's not just the low precipitation that's the problem, Berlant says. It's also the higher temperatures.




http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/california-drought/california-drought-drives-stronger-longer-wildfire-season-n347671

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