The majority of wildfires in the People’s Republik Of California have one of two reasons: stupidity and arson. Stupidity like failure to properly maintain transmission lines and morons letting their campfires get out of hand. Arson like it being intentional. Throw in a few lightning strikes now and then, because, hey, nature happens. Wildfires have always been a part of nature. But, you know, it’s still your fault that wackjobs set fires intentionally
In California, heat and dry conditions make arson a more potent threat
On a hot Wednesday in July, Ronnie Dean Stout II stood next to a smoking Toyota Yaris near a swimming hole in Chico, California, and watched as flames grew, authorities allege. He made no effort to put the fire out, then pushed the vehicle over a 60-foot embankment, according to a witness account outlined in court documents.
The car rolled into a ravine filled with dry vegetation, which the witness saw “explode” in flames, the court filings say.
Temperatures that day were well above 100 degrees and it was windy — “red flag” conditions ripe for fire. The blaze moved at a breakneck pace. In just 48 hours, the Park Fire had destroyed more than 130 structures, burned 175,000 acres and forced thousands to evacuate, according to the court filing. (snip)
About 10% to 15% of California’s wildfires are ignited by arson each year — and 2024 appears to be in line with the trend. But as climate change leads temperatures to rise, fire seasons to grow longer and drought conditions to become more intense, intentionally set fires have more opportunity to take off and grow.
That has led more than 477,000 acres to burn due to alleged acts of arson this year — by far the most since 2014, when 98,259 acres burned due to arson, according to Cal Fire.
And, because you refuse to give up your fossil fueled travel, along with your money and freedom to government, nutters setting fires will be worse. I’ve been waiting for something like this to pop up, though I expected it years ago. Usually the doomsday cult is a little quicker with their cult talking points.
Jeffrey Prestemon, a researcher at the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Research Station in North Carolina, said arson also presents an acute risk because fires started that way tend to cause more damage per acre than blazes caused by lightning or other factors.
“They’re often set where … people live, where there are structures,” Prestemon said.
When they occur away from populated areas, which continue to spread, it is more newsworthy. The PRC is a state that has always had issues with high winds and dry conditions. Perhaps the state government should start doing things like creating fire breaks, clearing out the dry brush, and do back burns. Just like native Americans used to do.
Mr Teach is being intentionally dense to gaslight his hapless readers.
The hotter, drier conditioners make wildfires, regardless of cause, more likely and larger.