what causes all these wildfires? every year there's a wildfire, what causes them, and how can we prevent them

Question

p.s. my heart goes out to all those who are caught up in those fires in Califorina. i hope some type of relief or some type of help will come their way, and get rid of those fires.

Answer 1

Lack of rain, low humidity and high winds make good conditions for them. Then a spark from a car, a fallen powerline, or anything like that causes a major brushfire. I am in San Diego, my house isn't in danger but the sky is filled with smoke. It is crazy down here.

Answer 2

Two factors. First is low rainfall in a State which has 39 million people living on that "almost desert" landscape. It's only green because water has been moving from the Owens Valley and other points for many decades to feed those lawns and trees around those homes. Second is the thing known as the "Santa Ana Winds". At least three times a year, the jet stream west of the Rockies moves from a west-east direction into a north-south direction. Where I live in Nevada we call it the "Siberian Express" because the winds originate in the Gulf of Alaska and cool things down quite rapidly. Unfortunately, for Southern California, those winds dry out crossing the Sierra Nevada Range on the way to the Pacific Ocean. So, low humidity and high winds give a bit of "Nature's flint" to the scene and the wild fires begin.
Short of denuding the hills (where rain will produce mudslides) there isn't much we can do. When it comes to the planet, we are the fleas on the back of the dog.

Answer 3

It's a combination of drought, low humidity and the Santa Ana winds, which are warm dry winds that kindle fires. While there are ways to make homes more safe (cutting back brush, clearing debris, etc), there is no true way to prevent wildfires. There are ordinances on campfires, people are careful with starting equipment outdoors, and Californians are constantly on alert during the fall. Truly, it is touch and go year to year!

Answer 4

The news stations like CNN will show how the dynamics of the mountains and the ocean winds along with the very dry climate create this problem. Man also altered the landscape of the area so people in that area have to live with it.

Answer 5

1. Downed electric lines
2. Arson
3. campfires?
4. other equip sparking.
5. winds.
6. smoking.
7. TOO much fuel to Burn- IE NOT cutting down trees.
etc to Reduce Fire Problem.

Answer 6

give it 30 years and it will be paved over and no more fires.

Answer 7

the santa ana winds, happens every year.

Answer 8

http://wisteme.com/question.view?targetAction=viewQuestionTab&id=1018

Answer 9

we need to use conservation in using inmates in forests to clear dead trees away and shrubs