2020 has had a rough go of things, and many didn’t think it could get worse. The summer months came and fire season began. In 2019, 50,477 wildfires burned 4.7 million acres nationwide, which is below the annual average. As of September 1, 2020, nearly 40,000 wildfires have burned over 4.0 million acres this year. 45 million people remain under heat warning or advisories. Temperatures in Los Angeles and parts of the west coast are reaching highs up to 120 degrees. In the few past weeks these fires have caused tens of thousands of acres of land to burn, causing evacuations, burnt homes and communities, and many animals’ lives to be lost. 

As fires are spreading, the response has been more complicated this year due to COVID-19. Due to the virus many firefighters are unable to work, leaving a smaller amount of available fighters. Another complication for fighting these rapidly spreading fires are the locations – a lot of them are deep in canyons with steep hills. With the high winds and intense heat the spread is happening a lot quicker than they can be contained. Fire fighters are saying these are the toughest fires they have ever seen. They are expecting to see a loss in lives and communities in the next few days.

Although not as bad as California, Oregon, and parts of the Rockies, Idaho is also experiencing wildfires. In many different parts of the state, especially eastern Idaho, wildfires have been breaking out. There have been two major fires in Idaho burning almost 500 acres. The cause of these fires is still under investigation. Although these wildfires are more contained than those in other parts of the country, we are still affected. There have been nearly 12,000 lightning strikes causing many of these wildfires. In Oregon, a major fire broke out when a tree fell and hit a power line. As for California, climate change seems to have a major impact on the fires other causes for wildfires across the country are unknown.

The smoke from these fires is causing the air quality around us to be unsafe. The smoke from these fires can cause anyone to have irritation to the nose, throat, and eyes. It is very unsafe for those who suffer from asthma and/or cardiovascular disease. Because the smoke can irritate your lungs, you are more prone to lung infections such as COVID-19. This makes it even more important to stay inside during these times.

Out of everyone, animals are the most affected by wildfires no matter where they are. Approximately 480 million animals lost their lives in the fires in Australia this past year. Many animals are able to flee to a safe place which leaves animals in human populated areas. It is very important to call animal control if you see a wild animal wandering in the streets. These animals are away from their home and out of their habitat. Animal control will help put these animals into safety where they know how to survive. But most animals are unable to escape. A lot of animals climb up trees to stay protected but eventually the tree goes down as well. 

The fires around the country are not looking like they will be getting better any time soon. As we are watching parts of our country burn into flames and seeing dark orange skies, we are reminded of how important it is to take care of our Earth.