California Wildfires
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CAUSE #1
A large amount of evidence points to the fact that the increased heating of the earth is due to greenhouse gases. These gases come from man-made air pollutants are trapped in our ozone layer and contribute significantly to the warming of the earth's climate specifically the climate of the southwest areas of the United States (Voiland, 2021).
CAUSE#2
There is sometimes too much vegetation that wildfires can consume so we need slow, prescribed burns. These "prescribed" burns clear unnecessary vegetation which restores forest health and prevents larger, harder to control fires from starting. Additionally new healthy, forests need to be grown in burnt areas to rebuild ecosystems, sequester carbon, and restore watershed health (Harder, 2021).
CAUSE #3
Humans are responsible for setting an alarming number of wildfires, 85% in the US. Human fires are most often started by campfires, cigarettes, negligence, and intentional arson (National park Service, 2018).
CAUSE #4
Power lines also fall under the category of human caused fire since power lines are created and managed by humans. An alarming 95% of California wildfires are started by human activity and judging from the chart provided by PBS, power lines accounted for 7 of California’s most destructive fires (Thomas, 2020).
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EFFECT #1
Due to global warming, specifically in California which is already a warmer area, there has been an increase in forest fires due to the huge lack of rain in the state. The drought we have been living in for many years is more likely to cause dryness in the forest leading to the likelihood of more fires (Voiland, 2021).
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EFFECT #2
Families are forced out of their homes left with no place to go when their homes are in the line of fire. Oftentimes rebuilding their house would be more expensive than buying a new one, but homes hold so much sentimental value and financial importance. This especially affects low-income communities and leaves them unhoused with little help (Harnett, 2018).
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Wildfires disrupt entire ecosystems by killing animals, injuring them, or destroying their homes. Additionally, if an animal survives a wildfire they will struggle to survive in their habitat without proper supplies of food, water, and other materials (National Geographic Society, 2020).
This relates to the CST to care for God’s creation because due to wildfires there is a lack of care for animals living in the affected areas. Additionally, because most of the fires are caused by human activity, it is our duty to uplift and care for the affected areas in order to show love and respect to what He created for us.
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EFFECT #4
Wildfires clearly affect the people most immediate to the area, but they also have the power to reach a bigger community due to the air pollutants that travel in large fires. People with pre-existing conditions such as asthma become endangered when the air quality is worse. Additionally, perfectly healthy people who are close to the area of fire are still negatively affected and can develop illnesses because smoke inhalation (EPA, 2021).
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This relates to the CST Option for the Poor and Vulnerable since wildfires leave families in debt, unhoused, and in financial disparity. During times of hardship, it is important that we give our support to the most vulnerable as God does. This doesn't mean we shouldn't help others, however, we are called to address the most urgent problem.
EFFECT #3