Wildfire Woes
West Coast inferno rages on, setting new records
October 13, 2020
Following the trends and disasters 2020 has brought so far, it seems only fitting that the annual West Coast wildfires are the worst to date. So far, over four million acres of land have burned in California, Oregon and Washington. And, unfortunately, the fires are expected to continue for another month.
As of early September, 28 massive wildfires were burning across California. Many were said to be caused by people. However, California is not the only state that has been experiencing this inferno. Unfortunately, the wildfires have been spreading to other states like Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, and Montana. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Even though the exact number is not really known, at least 35 people have lost their lives due to these West Coast wildfires.
Not only is this affecting the people who have lost their homes, but this is also raising issues for people with health problems. Since the fires are severe this year, the air quality is poor. The air is a risk to everyone, especially athsmatic people, elderly residents, and those who suffer from heart and lung issues.
On top of that, scientists are more worried than ever. This has been quite a shock to them because of the rapid acceleration of the West Coast wildfires. These wildfires are mostly affecting the climate crisis. Because of the climate change that has been going on for years, global warming has been happening and is becoming more and more of a bigger problem. The ozone layer is crumbling, and the pollution has also become a common issue. The wildfires create a huge habitat loss for plants and animals. Furthermore, the fires are creating their own hazards with the water supply and the oxygen. Climate change has been going around for a long time, but the fires that have burned millions of acres have caused climate change to become more severe.
During a tragic time like this, it is always important to help out those in need who have been affected by the wildfires. Here are some ways that you can help:
- Donating to the Red Rover Organization. The Red Rover is an organization that helps animals during a time of need, and they make sure to give shelters to animals who have lost their habitats, supplies, and more.
- Donating to nonprofit GlobalGiving.
- Donating to a number of other charities such as the American Red Cross.