California’s Worst Year and Why Wildfires Have Become So Deadly

According to new sources, 2018 was California’s worst year as far as wildfires was concerned and the havoc that they wreaked on the many citizens of California. In all of California state history, there has never been a year so deadly and so much land taken away at the hands of a deadly wildfire than this year alone. In 2018, it has been reported that over 100 people were killed in wildfires, with more than 17,000 homes and businesses burned to the ground. Firefighting crews were also called to the scene of over 8,000 fires, according to the CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Many of the recorded fatalities that took place were caused by the deadly Camp Fire, which ravaged across the entirety of Butte County, taking the lives of 86 people and leveling Paradise, a California city where many homes and businesses were lost within a day’s time. This fire, along with the Woolsey Fire, was responsible for burning up to 250,000 acres of land and putting lives at risk.

Now, many lawmakers and more are coming together to point out the fact that California experienced a hefty seven-year drought, putting them at the top of the list for the possibility of wildfires that could happen at any time. With over 147 million dead trees across the entire state of California, firefighters struggle to retain control over these blazes, which can lead to trouble. Many people also believe that climate change has contributed to the drastic impacts of fires across the state.

Why Wildfires Could Become More Prevalent

Unfortunately, this might not be the end of these events that take lives and put families and businesses at risk across the state of California. A study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences says that these wildfires could become a more regular occurrence, which spells trouble for those involved. Even with the wettest of winters, this might not qualify the state for a quiet wildfire season, which means that California is not off the hook and these events might intensify.

Researchers took a closer look at climate model simulations to find that there has been a changing fire severity at different points in time based on studying tree rings. Up until the beginning of the 20^th Century, we saw wet winters that would bring low wildfire activity in the summer seasons. However, things changed in the early 1900s. Now, the rising of temperatures due to alleged climate change could be making the situation more drastic and deadly for those who live in California. Any given year, scientists believe that we could experience fires that are the same intensity as the ones that we experienced in 2018. This means that we must take more steps to keep those within the state safe from harm, which includes preventative care.

By taking a closer look at wildfires, we find that, in four out of five cases of large wildfire events, people provide the spark that fuels the flame. In the other cases, it is the environment itself. In the case of the Camp Fire, liability falls onto PG&E, whose malfunctioning equipment likely led to the incident and took so many lives through negligent actions.

Scientists say that, as the environment becomes more flammable and the state grows hotter and hotter every year, the environment changes the way that fires work and makes them bigger, more severe, and costlier to put out. When individuals or entities cause these fires, they are contributing to a growing issue by not taking care and engaging in negligent acts that could lead to the loss of lives.

High Risks in Urban Areas 

In California, as urban growth takes over in many parts of the state, fire risks become even more prevalent. We can see this by taking a look at Paradise, where you will find that the city is the second-largest city across Butte County, homing more than 26,000 people at one point. The Camp Fire burned through a total of 6,453 homes in total. The amount of population in an area vastly contributes to how bad the fire is going to get and how it is going to spread. Wildfires that come into settled areas across California have been happening on much larger levels, putting lives at risk.

According to an analysis that was conducted in 2017, over two million homes are at an extremely high risk of catching on fire in a wildfire event. 12% of homes are located in moderate risk areas, which means that more than a quarter of homes are at a large risk that indicates that they could be ravaged anytime a wildfire happens. Knowing that wildfire events are increasing throughout the state, this could then spell trouble for many.

The Growing Costs of the Wildifre 

As we have seen through many examples throughout history such as the Camp Fire that is still fresh in our minds, wildfires have also become costlier than ever before. Putting out fires across the state demands the need for expensive equipment and, if the fire spreads and takes out thousands of structures, many will be left with the option of rebuilding. The Camp Fire is still expected to top upwards of $19 billion in damages to homeowners, insurance companies, and the state of California. Insurance premiums were already on the rise, which means that many might not know how they will move forward and pay for these immense damages.

Now that the investigation is taking place and PG&E has come forward admitting that they will probably be found for the horrific Camp Fire, many people are starting to move forward with their claims and get back on track for the future. At Brady Law Group, our experienced and dedicated California wildfire attorneys are willing to stand by your side and help you obtain the results you deserve after you have been injured or lost a loved one during this difficult time.