Ucla Climate Scientist Daniel Swain on the Devastating Wildfires Engulfing Parts of California, Particularly in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area.

I’m running out of superlatives.

• Beginning on August 15, lightning ignited hundreds of wildfires across Northern California. To date, there have been over 615 new fires, burning more than 1.1 million acres across the state, resulting in the loss of seven lives and over 1,200 buildings and structures.
• Swain says that unlike prior years, this year’s wildfires have reached vegetation areas. like redwoods, that typically are not susceptible to wildfires.
• Big Picture: The total number of fires this year increased over 60% compared to 2019, and the number of acres burned grew by nearly 260%, as of August 16. Two of this month’s fires have already ranked as #2 and #3 on the list of California’s top 20 largest wildfires dating back to 1932.

View a live map of California’s wildfires HERE