October’s California Wildfires the Deadliest in Last Century

James Calipetro, Staff Writer|November 9, 2017

Beginning October 8 and continuing throughout the month, wildfires spread through California, leaving 42 people dead and over 3 billion dollars of damage. The fire spread through 7 zones, some as big as 51,000 acres, with a total of more than 220,000 acres being damaged by the flames–many of these acres those used for the production of wine grapes. Additionally, more than 3,500 structures were completely destroyed, most of these being homes of people in the Santa Rosa area. Of the raging fires, only 15% could be contained despite over 10,000 firefighters being called in from the immediate areas to help stop the fires.

What had started this fire? No one knows for sure but the alleged person is a 29 year old who was seen carrying around a lighter and a fire extinguisher in the woods and then walking away from a small fire. The police have this person in custody and are still trying to find out what caused the other fires. Sometimes the cause is innocent, according to The New York Times,like a down power line, sparks from a piece of car’s metal dragging, or even heat from an engine.

90% of wildfires are caused by humans–mostly out of ignorance regarding putting out fires properly when camping. The other 10% is from lighting and lava.

Once a fire begins, the wind and dryness of the area make it nearly impossible to stop. October is the worst: The weekend that the fires began, there were 70mph autumn winds in the area, called the diablo winds.

This wildfire outbreak is the deadliest in the last century, and even as the changing weather has ended the spread of the fires, air quality in the area will be poor for some time, and the recovery process for the many acres impacted will be long.