The Impacts of West Coast Wildfires

Since early August, wildfires have raged across California, Oregon, and Washington. At the peak of the fires, firefighters were fighting nearly 100 wildfires along the West Coast. According to the The New York Times, over five million acres of land have burned as the wildfires devastate the environment. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, dozens are missing, and at least 35 individuals have died as a result of the wildfires. September 17 was the first day the Bay Area of California has not had a “spare the air” alert after 30 consecutive days of polluted air alerts. Smoke from the fires has even reached the East Coast in New York and Washington D.C. These unprecedented wildfires have caused concern over air quality and Covid-19 related risks, endangered species, future wildfire policy, and climate change. 

Air Quality Risk and Covid-19

AirNow is a website run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). AirNow uses the Air Quality Index to determine how safe the air is for people to breathe. As the Air Quality Index increases, air becomes worse to breathe. Anything above 100 on the Air Quality Index is bad for sensitive populations. Those with underlying respiratory conditions, like asthma, are more prone to an inflamed airway caused by the wildfires. Officials are concerned over this because the Cover-19 pandemic has increased the percentage of the air quality sensitive population.

It is anticipated that the wildfires’ smoke could aggravate symptoms of Covid-19. As people inhale the smoke-filled air, it could inflame airways which could cause symptoms similar to Covid-19. For those who are part of the Covid-19 infected population, the inhalation and additional coughing from the poor air quality could cause an increase in the spread of the virus. 

Endangered Species

Wildlife experts across California, Oregon, and Washington estimate that endangered species may not recover from the devastation of the wildfires. In Central Washington, the fires destroyed most of the sagebrush steppe in which the state’s endangered species of pygmy rabbits inhabit. It is estimated that about half of the pygmy rabbit population was killed in the sagebrush burning, leaving about 50 rabbits. Along with the pygmy rabbits, there are several breeds of birds who relied on the sagebrush to breed and raise their young in. Wildlife experts are deeply concerned as there is not a habitat for these endangered species to survive in anymore. According to experts, it is essential for climate changed to be addressed if these species are to survive. 

Wildfire Policy 

Policymakers are encouraging local officials to take on new policy approaches to wildfires. First, local officials should prohibit development in fire-prone areas. Local governments should prepare their citizens to flee on short notice. There is also encouragement for wildfire education to homeowners which will allow them to take proper precautions against fires. Finally, an important policy shift would focus on prescribed burns instead of wildfire prevention. Prescribed burns are fires created by firefighters to burn away excess vegetation whenever it is not too dry or hot. This would contain wildfires when they break out naturally. Policymakers are of the belief that wildfires cannot be prevented, so policy needs to exist that will limit the damages caused by wildfires. 

Climate Change

Experts claim that climate change is directly responsible for the increase in wildfires. Within the last few years, extreme heatwaves and dry spurts have caused fires to spread at a more rapid pace. According to Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, “California is America in fast forward”. Newsom has warned the United States that without climate change reform, what is happening on the West Coast will spread throughout the entire country. Despite the signs of climate change on the West Coast, President Trump has denounced the seriousness of climate change. President Trump has blamed the devastation of the West Coast on local and state officials instead. 

Conclusion

The wildfires across the West Coast are being fought by firefighters daily. It is unclear when air quality will become healthier for individuals to breathe in, and displaced people are unsure of when they can return to their home. Experts claim that climate change must be addressed seriously if there is to be change in the severity of wildfires on the West Coast