Thursday Top of the Scroll: As wildfire season starts, heat waves challenge containment efforts
Over the July 4 weekend, hundreds of fires sparked across California, feeding on the hot, dry conditions of an ongoing heat wave. But some of these fires were strange. They grew rapidly and expanded their territory at a time when fires, like people, traditionally rest: at night. … “Night won’t save us,” said Kaiwei Luo, a doctoral student in environmental sciences at the University of Alberta and the lead author of a recent study in the journal Nature that found overnight burning can cause fires to burn larger and longer. “With climate change, we will see more and more overnight burning,” he said. … Mr. Luo’s study found that while heat waves are a big contributor to extreme fire behavior, drought conditions could be the main driver. Understanding these factors could help emergency managers and communities better prepare. … If a fire starts in an area of drought, for example, firefighters could anticipate that overnight burning is likely to increase the fire’s range and severity.
Related articles:
- Los Angeles Times: Is relentless California heat wave finally ending? Slight cooling on tap for weekend
- Bay Area News Group: Gov. Newsom, fire officials warn of worsening California fire season
- CU Boulder Today: Heat waves are more dangerous than you think. Here’s why, and how to stay safe
- KPBS: High heat continues in San Diego County deserts, valleys
- LAist: Lake Fire expands as high heat and winds persist