Wildfires

The conversations of my neighbors were muffled as I thought about what was really happening. Their tones were positive, but I knew that was just a coverup as they encouraged me to go play so they could have an “adult conversation.” The aroma of smoke was starting to loom above us, I knew it couldn’t be good.

This was my first memory of wildfires directly impacting my life. Wildfires were the big talk at school the next day. School even got out early because of how terrified the teachers were of the possibility that the fires would reach our homes. The power went out and my neighborhood gathered outside with all our frozen and refrigerated food that would soon be going bad. To my younger sisters, this was just a neighborhood ice cream party, all fun and games to them, but all a blur to me.

In my ten-year-old mind, the fire would be burning down my house, killing my stuffed animals, and turning my school and favorite restaurants to ashes. Although the damages weren’t as extreme, our environment was seriously damaged and the severity is important to recognize. In 2010, 3,422,724 acres of land burned in California because of wildfires.

84% of wildfires are a result of human carelessness and unwillingness to change minor details, a percentage that is unacceptable and appalling, especially considering the number of homes, lives, and acres ruined. On the rare occasion I go camping, I’ll always make sure my immediate surrounding environment isn’t flammable. If I’m driving off a main road, I’ll avoid dry grass. I’ll encourage my peers and community members to properly discard their cigarettes, because this small action can save a life.. Staying informed and aware of your surroundings and weather are two easy steps to take to help avoid becoming part of the problem. These all account for a majority of wildfire causes.

As wildfire season approaches, I don’t want to have to be scared that my family might need to evacuate while I’m thousands of miles from home. I feel unsafe with today’s society and am not prepared to trust my community. In 2020, wildfire destruction cost the state more than 12 billion dollars, which isn’t even the highest, so danger is close. Human-caused wildfires are far too unpredictable and destructive to feel safe. I want a home to return to after this semester, and without some form of action to be taken by society, I can’t be confident.

It is important that we are all informed on the severity of wildfire destruction. Often, it is a problem that is overlooked because many wildfires are accidents or are started in an unknown way. In order to start to control the destruction, society needs to stay updated on what they can do to help the problem.

Works Cited:

Angelos Tzortzinis, “Wildfires Are Raging Worldwide.”

“How to Protect Your Home and Household from Wildfires: Safety Precautions and Considerations.”

Noah Berger, “Thousands of firefighters battle wildfires burning more than 850,000 acres across 12 states.”