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From small fire to big disaster: Why is the spread speed of the northern complex fire so alarming?
On August 17, 2020, in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California, 21 small fires quickly broke out and burned large tracts of forest as summer thunderstorms brought a series of dry thunderstorms. These small fires are a natural part of the environment, but as time progressed, the North Complex Fire demonstrated its alarming spread and became the deadliest fire in California's 2020 wildfire season, killing 16 people and injuring more than 100. . The fire ultimately burned 318,935 acres and was fully contained on December 3.
In just a few days, the North Complex Fire quickly expanded from a small blaze to a disaster that destroyed entire towns.
Initial Situation
In the early stages of the fire, 16 of the original 21 fires were brought under control in the following days, while the remaining Claremont Fire and Bear Fire were is the only threat. According to reports, towns threatened by the fire, such as Berry Creek and Feather Falls, were evacuated without warning on September 8, when strong winds spread the fire rapidly.
The terrifying speed at which the fire grewThe explosive spread of the fire nearly destroyed several towns overnight.
The fire grew rapidly on September 8, when it entered favorable dry conditions. Its spread was so fast that experts compared it to past fire events. The spread of the fire not only threatened the neighboring town, but also forced thousands of local residents to evacuate urgently. The fire burned more than 58,000 acres in a few hours, threatening several small communities, with only a few isolated homes left in some areas.
The fierce spread of the complex fires in the north has made people deeply feel the destructive power of extreme climate.
Air Pollution and Public Impact
The fire not only caused casualties, but the smoke it produced made the air quality in Quincy and surrounding areas extremely poor for several weeks. In addition, due to the influence of air currents, the smoke spread to more distant areas, as far as Sacramento County and the San Francisco Bay Area. This phenomenon even led to an "orange sky day" in the area, greatly affecting people's daily lives.
Political backlashFaced with the continuous fires, California Governor Gavin Newsom rushed to the North Complex Fire site on September 11 and delivered a speech on climate change. He signed a bill aimed at bringing previously approved prison firefighters into the workforce in an effort to be better prepared for disasters in the future. However, other politicians in the state were unhappy with his remarks, questioning that they did not provide specific solutions to the current accumulation of forest fuels and the disasters they cause.
Can the discussion on climate change really draw society’s attention to forest protection and post-disaster reconstruction?
Final Thoughts
The experience of the Northern Complex Fire has forced people to think deeply about how to make future prevention systems more perfect in the face of challenges of climate change and extreme weather, so as to reduce the impact of disasters on humans and the natural environment. We should learn from the lessons of this fire and rethink whether our fire management and prevention measures are effective enough? Can we avoid similar tragedies in the future?
