What's the Leading Cause of Wildfires in the U.S.? Humans

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"More than 10 wildfires burned over 200,000 acres in Southern California in October 2003, many of them started by humans. This satellite image shows strong winds carrying smoke over the Pacific." Credit: MODIS Rapid Response Team/NASA

It is no surprise, human beings are the leading cause of wildfires in the U.S. (more than 98% of fires in Hawaii are caused by people). But now, thanks to scientists, we know the extent of the issue: humans cause 84% of forest fires nationwide! Prevention education is so important - we hope that you can continue to help HWMO spread the word about preventing wildfires to protect our communities, lands, and waters. 

From the Source:

"As a result, Balch says, not only are people causing the vast majority of wildfires, they're also extending the normal fire season around the country by three months."

"I think acknowledging that fact is really important," she says, "particularly right now when we have evidence that climate is changing, and climate is warming, and that fires are increasing in size and the fire season is increasing."

Brush Fire Flares Up Across From Sandy Beach

KHON2 Screen Capture

It may be surreal to watch as horses are led through sidewalks of paved streets in an urban neighborhood, but that was the reality on Saturday, February 4th when a couple wildfires in East Oahu filled neighborhoods with smoke (and burned to the edge of a home). If you have pets or livestock on a property, follow the step-by-step evacuation plan checklist on pages 15-16 of the Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire Action Guide.

Personal recreational drones complicated the firefight for Honolulu Fire Department. Please make sure to keep drones out of the air during wildfires as they are a safety hazard for helicopters. A trending YouTube video is not worth risking the lives and safety of our firefighters and communities.

From the Source:

"There were tense moments for homeowners, with one house just feet away from the scorched ground. Firefighters were stationed nearby to safeguard homes.

HFD Capt. David Jenkins said the fire quickly grew “with the winds being variable and blowing in different directions, causing some impact on the fire.”

The fire was called contained at approximately 3:45 p.m. No homes were damaged or directly threatened by the fire, and there were no evacuation of residents.

Jenkins did say that the fire did go up and into Koko Crater and the stables were evacuated. None of the horses were injured."

500-Acre Calabasas Fire - All Evacuation Orders Lifted

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"Burned hillsides surround a home in Calabasas." (Michael Owen Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Resident evacuations in Calabasas, a suburb of Los Angeles, proved to be a vital part of firefighting efforts this week. More than 5,000 residents left their homes during mandatory evacuations, allowing for firefighters to focus efforts on firefighting in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. Does your family have and practice an evacuation plan?

From the Source:

"With the hundreds of homes that we had in threat, the fact that we had no damage (to homes) is definitely a very positive effort by the residents of Calabasas and Topanga," he said, "and also, of course, the the firefighters that were in there trying to save those structures." - KTLA

“Firefighters are still trying to identify what commercial building was destroyed by the fire. The damage to the two homes was minor. Officials praised aggressive brush clearance by residents for preventing more damage.” - Los Angeles Times

‘Shari Davis was watching the television news Saturday as reporters said that much of Mountains Restoration Trust land used by her new summer day camp was scorched. Davis, who along with her husband owns and operates Camp Wildcraft, said, ‘I am kind of in despair at the moment.’

‘It looks like the whole area could be destroyed,’ Davis said. 

More than 50 children were set to arrive at the camp next week, and Davis said she was composing an email to parents letting them know that the camp might need to make alternate plans.” - Los Angeles Times

Fort McMurray Fire Photos Show Incredible Power of Historic Wildfire

Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada is facing a major crisis right now: a massive wildfire that has prompted the largest fire evacuation in the province's history. Over 88,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the fire that is even taking out parts of downtown. Our hearts go out to all of those affected - we know how terrifying it must be but the safest bet is to leave and to leave early during times like these.

From the Source:

"According to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, 80 per cent of the houses in the neighbourhood of Beacon Hill were destroyed by the powerful blaze.

Firefighters say they are preparing for a “worse” day Wednesday, anticipating strong winds and dry conditions to feed the already out of control 7,500-hectare-large inferno.

All 105 patients were evacuated from the local Northern Lights hospital within two hours, officials said at a news conference."

Fire Scorches Vacant Land Near Hualalai Elderly Housing

Credit - West Hawaii Today

Wildfire solutions are not always easy to find. One of the more complex issues are campfire starts from homeless, a common occurrence in Kailua-Kona. What's important is that to find solutions, we need to ensure that these complex issues are addressed with all stakeholders at the table. Collaboration is the only way to get to the heart of wicked problems like these.

Mahalo to firefighters for keeping Kona residents safe!

From the Source:

"Capt. Gifford Matsuoka said a southwest wind helped to keep the fire from spreading into more vacant land to the south and blew the brunt of the smoke away from the housing complex.

That wasn’t the case in 2012, when smoke from a similar fire forced the evacuation of the complex. Smaller fires have occurred sporadically in the area since then.

'Round three. This is the third time since I’ve been here,' said resident Larry Johnson, watching the scene unfold to the west.

Residents were quick to blame the fire on the homeless camping on the vacant land. Firefighters said the cause hasn’t been determined but listed homeless campfires as a possible cause."

Diamond Head Brush Fire Burns 2 Acres

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Credit: Iris Takahashi / special to Hawaii News Now

The highly-trafficked Diamond Head, one of Hawaii's most notable landmarks, was ablaze on Tuesday, March 29th. One witness mentioned her "surprise" about it. However, this will be more and more of a common scene, regardless of what area you live in, because of the current drought. Drought means a higher wildfire risk! Stay vigilant of your surroundings and the changing conditions around you. 

From the Source:

"Fire crews fought nearly two hours to contain a brush fire at one of Hawaii's best known landmarks. Fueled by high winds, the blaze scorched about two acres on the exterior of the Diamond Head State Monument before it was contained.

'I just think it's shocking. I run this area everyday. Five to seven days a week and don't expect to see this, especially on Diamond Head. This is one of the most pronounced landmarks here,' said Saint Louis Heights resident Victoria Sherwood.'"

25-Acre Blaze Ignites Near Kailua-Kona Neighborhood

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"A Hawaii County helicopter performs a water drop on a brush fire that threatened homes in the Komohana Kai subdivision of Kailua-Kona on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Denny Miller/Special to West Hawaii Today)"

We hope all are okay after an incredibly close-call in the Komohana Kai subdivision. Just the intensity of the smoke near homes was enough to cause some residents to evacuate. Mahalo to firefighters for their quick response and to community members who cooperated with evacuation procedures and helped make suppression efforts easier for firefighters. 

From the Source:

"The southern edge of Kailua-Kona was draped in large black clouds of smoke Wednesday afternoon as a brush fire consumed an open area near the Komohana Kai subdivision, causing people to evacuate their homes voluntarily and at least one government office to close for the day.

The fire started about noon in the vicinity of Banyan Apartments on Alii Drive and quickly raced mauka through dry brush toward the subdivision, which is located on the bottom portion of Lako Street."

"Firefighters were assisted by residents, who helped realign hoses, mark out areas and provide lifts on mopeds.

Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Gantry Andrade said the brush fire makai of Lako and Kololia streets was close to being under control by Wednesday afternoon. The fire was slowly spreading, however, most of the active burning was within the burn area. Bulldozers were close to cutting the final parts of the firebreak to control the blaze, he said."

Huge Community Effort to Battle Kahikinui Brush Fire

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Photo Credit: County of Maui/Ryan Piros

When a community comes together during an emergency, the safety of firefighters and residents is vastly improved. Case and point, the efforts of community members during the 5,300 acre wildfire that threatened homes in Kahikinui, Maui, made suppression efforts much easier for first responders. The fire was an intense one, not only for residents in Kahikinui, but for those in Kihei, too. The smoke was thick as it smothered parts of Kihei, reported Pablo Beimler, who was in Kihei for HWMO work. Unfortunately, HWMO had to cancel a Firewise Community Hazard Assessment with Kula Hawaiian Homelands due to the wildfire, but thankfully no homes or lives were lost in what could have been a catastrophic fire.

From the Source:

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Map of Kahikinui Fire. Credit: Maui County GIS

"Before first responders were able to close the roads Monday evening, good Samaritans like Joe Santos sprung into action. "I took my truck and I blocked the road because I was trying to stop anybody from driving into the fire," said Santos, operations manager for Kaupo Ranch."

Shortly after, Maui firefighters were in full force fighting the blaze. Various public and private entities also helped supplying manpower and bulldozers.

The efforts helped save all the homes in the Kahikinui Homesteads.

'The fire got close to the homestead side, a little more on the Ulupalakua area, that's where it was really intense trying to save the houses. The trade winds were bringing the fire close to the homes and that's where the stress level got a little bit crazy,' said Santos.

Taomoto said the Maui Fire Department expresses its gratitude to everyone who helped and continues to help fight the fire."

Firefighters Battle 200-Acre Brush Fire Near HCC - Palamanui

"Firefighters are battling a brush fire in the vicinity of Hawaii Community College — Palamanui. (Graham Milldrum/West Hawaii Today)"

Hawaii Community College at Palamanui had a recent wildfire scare and took the right precaution of evacuating early and advising the public to avoid the area. Thanks to efforts by our firefighting partners, the blaze was kept away from important resources. Another close call, but this is only the beginning of what will be a very busy El Nino-driven wildfire period. 

From the Source:

"The blaze was roughly arrowhead-shaped, with the point headed toward the mauka forested area. The sides expanded slowly, often burning against the wind. With the plan reliant on the bulldozers and helicopters, the firefighters were largely limited to monitoring the blaze.

The fire was almost exclusively fed by fountaingrass, some of which effectively cylinders of vegetation four feet tall and four feet across. The fire could be seen jumping from bush to bush as it advanced."

Indonesia Uses Trained Elephants to Control Forest Fires

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"In this Sunday, Nov. 10, 2015 photo, forestry officials ride on the back of an elephant as they patrol an area affected by forest fire in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia." (AP Photo/Rony Muharrman)

The elephant plays an important role in the lifestyles of many people in Southeast Asia - and in ways you might have never imagined. Elephants as part of a fire crew? Check.

From the Source:

"Officials in Indonesia are using trained elephants outfitted with water pumps and hoses to help control fires that have claimed vast amounts of forest while sending thick haze into neighboring countries.

For nearly three months, Riau province in East Sumatra has been blanketed by smoke from forest fires and land clearing, especially in peat-rich areas where flames are difficult to contain.

At the elephant conservation center in Siak district, 23 trained elephants are being used as 'forest watchdogs.'"

After Years of Drought, Wildfires Rage in California

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Screen capture from New York Times.

This interactive news piece (graphs, maps, photos, and gifs) offers some eye-popping insight into the impacts of drought on wildfire frequency and severity. 

From the Source:

"He described how fire – in such arid conditions – climbed quickly up mountain ridges and spread vertically, going from the grasses at ground level to smaller branches that act as ladders to the bodies of dry trees.

Dead trees were, in part, what allowed the fire to keep going. And they can be found all over California...

A study from the University of California, Merced, has shown that fire seasons in the West, including California, are, on average, 86 days longer than they were in the 1970s.

'Southern California has a 12-month fire season now,' said Scott L. Stephens, a professor of fire science at the University of California, Berkeley. 'You can have a fire there at any time.'”

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (From Distant Flames)

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Photo: Matthew Keys/Flickr Creative Commons

A by-product of wildfires that can impact people from miles away (and sometimes continents away!), smoke can create severe public health impacts. This fun and informative personal account of smoke impacts also has some good tips at the end of the article.

From the Source:

"Smoke plumes can carry dangerous gases and toxins hundreds or thousands of miles, exposing hundreds of millions of Americans each fire season to harmful particulates. Even as the United States continues to make strides to reduce air pollution—here’s looking at you, Clean Air Act and Clean Power Plan—the risks from smoke plumes are only likely to worsen as climate change continues to spur bigger, badder fires."

"Short-term exposure to plumes has been linked to everything from asthma attacks to stroke to anxiety. People with preexisting respiratory and cardiovascular problems are particularly vulnerable, as are the elderly and the very young. One study found that babies whose moms had been exposed to wildfire smoke during pregnancy had lower birth weights. And even perfectly healthy folks (joggers, like yours truly) may suffer sore throats or itchy eyes when a haze descends."

"In the meantime, anyone looking to breathe a little easier during wildfire season can take precautions. The CDC offers some excellent tips, including:

• Check air quality reports.
• Consult local visibility reports.
• Keep indoor air as clean as possible.
• Don’t be a dolt and go out for a run when a thick plume of wildfire smoke descends on your backyard.

Er, that last note might not be a CDC-approved message but rather one I wrote to myself."

California "Rocky Fire" Threatens Thousands of Homes (VIDEO)

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CalFire firefighters walk along Highway 20 as the Rocky Fire burns near Clearlake, Calif. The fire has charred more than 27,000 acres and is currently only 5% contained.  Josh Edelson, AFP/Getty Images

Unprecedented wildfire conditions are making the "Rocky Fire" blaze a difficult one to suppress. 

Many homeowners have been evacuated but others are deciding to stay…here's an important message from a homeowner in Clearlake with "Ready, Set, Go!" language entwined:

"For people who think they are going to stay and defend their property to the end, well, I got news for them: you won't be able to breathe by the time the fire reaches you so there's no point in staying." - Rick Sanders, homeowner.

From the Source:

A massive, fast-moving wildfire has destroyed at least 24 homes and threatens another 6,300 in a drought-stricken area about 100 miles north of San Francisco.

"The grass, the brush, the trees, they are tinder-dry," said CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant. More than 12,000 people had been evacuated from the area around Clearlake, Calif., located about 100 miles north of San Francisco and 100 miles northwest of Sacramento.

Homeowners are doing what they can to prepare but fear they are "one gust of wind away from devastation."

"We are seeing burning conditions that are almost unprecedented." - Paul Lowenthal, Santa Rosa firefighter.

Firefighters Protect Wahiawa Homes as 2nd Fire Burns Native Forest

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Uluhe fern. Credit - Star Advertiser

Wildfires in Wahiawa are demonstrating what's at stake in Hawaii: protecting communities AND native forests. 

"The resident said 'chunks of ash' also blew through the air, settling on her yard and pressing through her screen windows."

Just goes to show how important Hardening Your Home and Lightening Your Landscape is!

From the Source:

"Firefighters worked through the night to beat back flames from a wildfire in Wahiawa that initially threatened homes Sunday afternoon. 

Meanwhile, another fire, burning in steep and rugged terrain in the Ewa Forest Reserve above Wahiawa, burned through native trees and ferns grew to 75 acres Sunday."

"The fire spread rapidly Sunday 'because of two key challenges,' Ward said. 'Strong winds are helping to spread the fire, and, second, steep terrain.'

She said the land features '60 percent native forest, including koa and ohia trees and, in the understory (below the forest canopy), uluhe ferns.'"

Lihue Airport Operations Return to Normal After Brush Fire

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Credit: Honolulu Star Advertiser

Yet another thing wildfire can impact: your next flight due to heavy smoke.

From the Source:

"At least three flights heading to Kauai were diverted to Oahu on Saturday because of heavy smoke from a brush fire behind Lihue Airport.

The brush fire began about 8:20 a.m. and was brought under control about 1:20 p.m., a Kauai spokeswoman said."

Brushfire Scorches 75 Acres at Edge of Subdivisions in Kona

"Homeowners keep an eye on the brush fire south of Kaiminani Dr. on Saturday. Laura Shimabuku/West Hawaii Today"

Residents in Kona's holiday was dampened by an afternoon brush fire that took a community effort to help put out. Access to wildland areas can be a real difficulty on the windy, steep roads on the mauka side of Kona. The community can be a big help to firefighters by assisting them in whatever they say they need.

From the Source:

"Instead of enjoying the holiday, homeowners spent the afternoon inhaling smoke, soaking yards and roofs and keeping an eye on the fire as it moved mauka through open brush, leaving smoldering areas. Some residents reported packing photo albums and other personal belongings in their cars, preparing to leave if necessary.

Workers building a Wainani Street house for Neil Vieth used a Bobcat to cut a fire line and manned the south edge of the property with buckets and garden hoses.

“'As the fire went up the back wall, guys were saving houses one by one,' Ferguson said. 'It was the whole community here.'”

Green Sands Fire '50 Percent' Contained

When it's time to evacuate, make sure to listen to Civil Defense messages for the correct evacuation routes and shelter locations. Our hearts go out to those who's homes are being threatened in the Green Sands area.

For more information on the proper evacuation protocol, check out the Ready, Set, Go! Hawaii Wildland Fire Action Guide.

From the Source:

"Hawai’i County Fire Department crews are battling a runaway brush fire in the Na’alehu Green Sands subdivision.

The fire is reportedly burning out of control. No estimate as to how many acres have burned is currently available.

Residents in the Green Sands subdivision have been asked to evacuate. The evacuation is due to high winds and heavy smoke conditions."

"Naalehu brush fire. Photo credit: Eric Fandrick."

Hawaii Island Brush Fire Still Out of Control - Residents Allowed to Return

Green Sands Subdivision residents were forced to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire driven by high winds. Wildfire season is here - we hope that you have everything you need to be Ready!

From the Source:

"Nearby residents are being allowed to return to their homes. They were evacuated earlier in the afternoon due to high winds and heavy smoke conditions. No one was reported hurt.

'Just smelling the smoke and it got worse and worse and all of a sudden I could see the smoke,' resident Patti Snyder told KHON2. “I thought, oh man, I better call the fire department back again and I told them where I thought it was and I said, well should I leave because I got ashes coming on my house!'"

Screen-capture from KHON2 video.

VIDEO: Runaway Brush Fire Near Lava Flow Contained

From the Source: 

"Civil Defense message issued at 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening, with video of a fire chopper picking up water at the end of Kauakahi Place between Ainaloa and Pahoa for a drop on a runaway brushfire." 

Uploaded by Big Island Video News on 2014-10-07.

Above: "Photo of lava flow and brushfire taken Oct. 6 by Ena Media Hawaii / Paradise Helicopter. Residents of Ainaloa, Orchidland, Kea’au, even all the way up to Hilo, could smell the smoke, and in some cases, could feel the ash, for much of the day." Credit - Paradise Helicopters

Explosive Fire Growth Dumps Smoke into Reno Area

"Although a wildfire may be burning miles away and you live in a cityscape, chances are, you could still be impacted by the wildfire. The most direct effect is smoke. 

To decrease your risk from wildfire smoke, check local air quality reports (EPA's AQI, for example), keep windows and doors closed, stay well-hydrated, limit outdoor activities, and if necessary, wear a "N95" mask. Regular dust masks won't protect your lungs from the small particles that stem from a wildfire. Also, if you wear contact lenses, switch to eyeglasses.

From the Source: 

"The King Fire that has sent smoke into the Truckee Meadows all week has blown up overnight to an estimated 70,944 acres.

The size of the fire combined with the winds not dying down as expected contributed to Truckee Meadows air quality reaching a level of very unhealthy, said National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Smallcomb."

Above: "Setting sun viewed through smoke as it is starting to blow into Reno from the west on Wednesday evening. The smoke is from the King Fire in California on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014." Credit - Terry Dee