Batteries created from iron and salt in ceramic tubes present a reduced fire risk compared to lithium-ion batteries
Inlyte Energy
Batteries utilizing iron and salt can deliver emergency power without fire hazards, located near one of California’s historic redwood forests.
The 200-kilowatt battery will be integrated with solar panels at the Alliance Red Woods Conference Ground in Sonoma County, California. This site is situated in a high wildfire risk zone of Redwood Forest, merely 16 kilometers from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, and is home to California’s tallest and oldest trees. During severe weather and wildfires, conference facilities often assist firefighters and evacuees, yet they are also prone to power grid outages.
“Our view of technology revolves around establishing a secure, cost-effective energy storage solution.” Ben Kaun from Inlyte Energy in California stated. “This perspective guided us toward developing large cells with affordable and plentiful active materials such as iron and salt.”
The battery projects are expected to provide up to two weeks of emergency backup power, operational by 2027. This capability will enable lighting within the conference grounds and supply power to local firefighter water pump stations without jeopardizing the iconic redwood trees.
This is attributed to the non-flammable nature of these easily sourced battery components (powdered iron and salt contained in ceramic tubes). “These batteries and their cells can be positioned closely together without the typical fire or explosion risks associated with lithium-ion batteries,” says Kaun.
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in smartphones and electric vehicles, can ignite under certain conditions, and this risk escalates when batteries are concentrated in large storage facilities. For instance, in January 2025, a fire at California’s largest battery storage site obliterated 300 megawatts of energy storage. Conversely, Inlyte’s iron-salt batteries possess significantly lower risk profiles. The Iron-Salt Battery initiative has secured nearly $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance energy resilience in wildfire-prone areas near Redwood Forest.
“These non-flammable batteries are a prudent choice for project developers considering energy storage installations in remote or drought-prone regions or near forests vulnerable to frequent drought,” says Dustin Mulbany from San Jose State University. “Energy technology and infrastructure have historically contributed to wildfires, and utilizing non-flammable batteries offers a way to mitigate some of these risks.”
A report published on Tuesday by German multinationals revealed that weather-related disasters in the first half of this year caused $93 billion in damages within the United States.insurancecompany.
An analysis from Munich RE, the largest reinsurer in the world, indicated that over 70% of the global damages from this year’s weather disasters occurred in the United States, leading to a burden of $22 billion on uninsured Americans and their local governments.
The report underscores the increasing economic impact of wildfires, severe storms, and other extreme weather events both in the US and globally. It also highlights the escalating insurance crisis in nations frequently afflicted by such disasters.
“Approximately 90% of all industry losses were observed, with $72 billion out of $80 billion occurring in the US,” stated Tobias Grimm, chief climate scientist at Munich RE. “That is remarkable.”
The catastrophic wildfires in Southern California in January ranked as the most expensive disaster in the country during the first half of 2025. The two major fires, responsible for at least 30 fatalities and displacing thousands, swept through the Pacific Ocean’s Pallisad and Altadena neighborhoods.
Munich RE estimated the wildfire losses at $53 billion, including costs affecting uninsured residents. The reinsurer noted that these flames in the Los Angeles area resulted in “the highest wildfire loss ever recorded.”
The significant economic and social impacts of wildfires can be partly attributed to the increasing development in fire-prone areas.
“In many instances, losses are growing due to property developments causing damage,” Grimm explained. “People continue to reside in high-risk zones.”
Urbanization in disaster-prone areas can similarly escalate the costs associated with other weather-related events, like hurricanes and floods, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
Research indicates that climate change is becoming increasingly frequent as temperatures rise and drought conditions worsen. Consequently, the intensity of wildfires is also increasing.
A report by the World Weather Attributes Group issued in late January found that high temperatures, along with dry and windy conditions conducive to fire spread in Southern California, could be approximately 35% more likely due to human-induced global warming.
Forests have been cleared for mining in the Brazilian Amazon
Marcio Isensee e Sá/Getty Images
In 2024, the loss of tropical forests reached unprecedented levels, doubling the rate seen in the last two decades, primarily due to climate change making rainforests more vulnerable to uncontrollable fires.
A comprehensive annual analysis of satellite imagery conducted by Global Forest Watch and the University of Maryland revealed a staggering loss of 67,000 square kilometers of crucial tropical rainforests in 2024. Primeval forests, defined as mature woodlands that have not been subjected to logging, were particularly affected.
The report’s author indicated that the dramatic increase in forest loss can be largely attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon alongside global warming, which has exacerbated conditions leading to catastrophic fires in rainforests.
“We don’t just have agricultural activities as the main cause of deforestation,” stated Rod Taylor from Global Forest Watch, an initiative of the World Resources Institute. “This new amplification effect constitutes a genuine climate change feedback loop, with fires becoming increasingly intense and destructive.”
Tropical forests play a vital role in regulating weather patterns, sequestering carbon, and cooling the planet. However, recent trends in deforestation have led to them releasing more carbon than they absorb, pushing them toward a critical tipping point.
The report also reveals that the area affected by wildfires in native forests during 2023 was five times greater than the losses registered in 2023, constituting 48% of all primary rainforest losses.
Globally, wildfires emitted greenhouse gases equivalent to 4.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide last year, significantly more than the total emissions from air travel in 2023.
Associated with warm and dry weather conditions in the tropics, the El Niño phenomenon officially ended in April 2024 but left lasting effects as rainforest soil and vegetation remained parched from earlier wildfires.
The context of global warming also played a significant role, making 2024 the driest year in Brazil in 70 years, as noted by Ane Alencar from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute in Belem, Brazil.
Brazil witnessed a loss of 28,000 square kilometers of its primary forest, the highest figure since 2016, accounting for 42% of all tropical native forest losses.
Fires in the Brazilian Amazon were responsible for 60% of the overall forest loss, as individuals exploited the dry conditions to clear land for agricultural purposes.
Elsewhere, countries such as Canada and Russia also reported significant wildfires beyond the tropical regions, contributing to a global forest loss of 300,000 square kilometers, a new record.
“Some experts argue that we are currently in a pyrocene, or age of fire, as opposed to the Anthropocene,” noted Erika Berenguer from Oxford University.
While bushfires pose a serious threat, Berenguer cautioned that the statistics might include degradation, where some trees were lost without complete deforestation, the latter being the total clearance of forests.
“Degradation diminishes carbon storage, undermines biodiversity, and increases susceptibility to future fires, but it’s not equivalent to transforming land into soy fields or pastures,” she explained.
The report highlights how ongoing degradation and a warming climate have rendered rainforests increasingly vulnerable, according to Alencar.
“Typically, if a fire breaks out in the Amazon, you can witness some degradation, but the forest has the potential to recover,” she stated. “However, this report indicates that during extreme droughts, forests can burn intensely, fostering conditions that may lead to complete loss of the forest.”
A wildfire in British Columbia, Canada, blazes in June 2023
Imago/Alamy stock photos
2023 set new records as one of the hottest years, but it could have been even warmer. Climate models indicate that without the cooling effect of smoke from large wildfires in Canada, the average summer temperature in the Northern Hemisphere would have been approximately 1°C higher. Smoke may also be present in August, India’s driest month.
“It’s difficult to grasp the scale of such a massive fire. It was extraordinary,” remarks Iurian Allyn Roz from the Crete Institute of Technology in Greece.
According to Rosu, emissions from wildfires this year were estimated to be five to six times higher than those recorded during previous wildfire seasons in Canada. Although carbon dioxide from these fires contributes to warming, in 2023, this warming was offset by the cooling effects of the smoke blocking sunlight.
To quantify the smoke’s cooling impact, Ross and colleagues conducted a series of climate model simulations, comparing scenarios with and without emissions from Canadian wildfires. The findings suggest that between May and September, smoke caused local cooling up to 5.4°C (9.7°F) in certain areas of Canada, leading to an overall cooling of 0.9°C (1.6°F) for the Northern Hemisphere.
This might be unexpected given that record temperatures were reported in parts of Canada that summer. However, while the heat was mostly concentrated in the west, Ross explains that the smoke drifted eastward, where it had the most significant cooling effect.
The effects extended beyond Canada as well. In this model, emissions from wildfires altered wind patterns in Asia, diminishing the monsoon and reducing rainfall in India. This aligns with actual observed phenomena.
“The precipitation discrepancies observed in the data closely resemble those predicted in the model,” notes Rosu, affirming the model’s accuracy.
Nonetheless, the cooling effect proved to be short-lived. “Data analysis for November and December showed minimal impact,” says Rosu.
The record for the hottest year of 2023 may not last long, as 2024 is shaping up to be even hotter.
Recent studies reveal that climate-induced wildfires lead to thousands of deaths each year and significant economic impacts due to wildfire smoke in the United States.
A paper published this Friday in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment indicates that between 2006 and 2020, climate change was responsible for approximately 15,000 deaths related to exposure to fine particulate matter from wildfires, totaling around $160 billion in costs. The findings suggest an annual mortality range from 130 to 5,100, particularly high in states like Oregon and California.
Nicholas Nacicus, an author of the research and a professor at Harvard Medical School, stated, “What does it really mean in a changing environment for outcomes like mortality?” stressing the serious health implications.
Lisa Thompson, a professor at Emory University who studies air pollution and climate change, noted that this study is among the first to distinctly identify the impacts of climate change on mortality. She emphasized the uniqueness of examining these effects temporally and spatially.
The study concentrated on deaths linked to particulate matter exposure, specifically PM2.5, a significant concern stemming from wildfire smoke.
These tiny particles penetrate deep into the lungs, causing short-term symptoms like coughing and irritation. Over time, they can worsen pre-existing health conditions and result in serious, potentially fatal issues. Vulnerable populations include children, pregnant individuals, the elderly, and outdoor workers. The Health Effects Institute estimated that pollutants have caused 4 million deaths globally.
Evidence suggests that PM2.5 from wildfire smoke is more harmful than other pollution sources. In wildfire situations, toxic materials like burning cars can exacerbate the health risks.
Numerous studies have linked the rise in wildfires in North America to human activities such as the burning of coal, oil, and gas. Climate change is intensifying drought conditions, particularly in the West, alongside other extreme weather phenomena. The drying process reduces moisture in vegetation, which serves as fuel for fires. Together with increasing temperatures, this leads to more frequent, widespread, and severe wildfires.
Scholars find the findings disheartening yet unsurprising
Jacob Bendix, a professor emeritus of geography and the environment at Syracuse University, expressed disappointment in the results, stating he was not surprised by the study’s conclusions.
The primary purpose of the pink dye is simply to allow firefighters and pilots to accurately create and identify lines of flame retardant.
“Essentially, this allows the pilot to see where the line will be dropped,” Horn said. “If it’s clear, they won’t know where the deceleration line is.”
Phos-Chek fades over time when exposed to sunlight and washes away with water, so it won’t permanently stain your landscape.
Neptune Aviation, a Montana-based air tanker company, is one of the services currently delivering fire retardant to areas affected by the fires. The company has contracts with the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Nick Lin, vice president of operations for Neptune Aviation, said three of the company’s air tankers are in use in Southern California. He explained that the aircraft were using designated air tanker bases set up by the government.
“We go to a pre-established tanker base where we mix the flame retardant and pump it onto the plane. Think of us like a dump truck. We take the product from A to B,” he said.
On Monday, pink flame retardant was discovered at a home in the hills of Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Neptune Aviation flew at least 93 missions and transported an additional 280,000 gallons of retardant for firefighting efforts, Lin added.
To protect the ecosystem, the Forest Service and Department of the Interior require aircraft to avoid dropping flame retardants within 300 feet of waterways (ground deliveries must also avoid waterways). However, some exceptions are allowed, such as when “the potential damage to natural resources outweighs the potential loss of aquatic life.” According to the Forest Service.
The main environmental issue associated with flame retardants is the presence of heavy metals. A study last year suggested that some versions of Phos-Chek contained higher levels of metals such as cadmium and chromium than would be considered safe according to regulatory standards. Heavy metals are not added directly to the product, but can come from naturally occurring impurities.
But Horne said the version of Foscheck dropped in California is “a different product than it was a few years ago.”
A Mandeville Canyon trail entrance sign was covered in pink flame retardant in Los Angeles on Monday. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
Yifan Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the benefits of using flame retardants outweigh the risks.
“There is little evidence that there are any serious long-term health effects in people associated with it,” Zhu said.
He added that the immediate health risks posed by wildfire smoke, which contains high levels of particulate matter, outweigh potential concerns related to flame retardants.
Exposure to smoke pollution can cause a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including difficulty breathing, bronchitis, and heart attacks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Tap water in the Los Angeles area could be unavailable for some time due to concerns about damage to infrastructure and chemicals from wildfires, experts say. At least two water authorities have issued warnings about possible contamination from ongoing fires. Experts are worried about the risks to human health from chemicals and pathogens entering the water system, but accurate assessment may take time.
Residents in Pacific Palisades and neighboring communities have been advised to use bottled water for cooking, drinking, and other purposes due to potential contaminants like benzene entering the water system. The Pasadena Department of Water and Power has also instructed residents to switch to bottled water until further notice following concerns about debris impacting the water quality.
Drinking water systems can become contaminated after wildfires, as seen in past incidents in urban areas. Loss of water pressure in the system can be a sign of contamination, triggering careful analysis of the water quality. Environmental engineers are conducting tests in key areas to determine when the water will be safe to drink again.
While there is concern about potential contamination from flame retardants and ash from burnt materials, experts are mainly focused on monitoring benzene and other harmful chemicals due to their carcinogenic properties. Boiling water does not eliminate these chemicals, so the authorities have rescinded the “boil water” advisory. The testing process for dangerous chemicals can take weeks or even months to complete.
In cases of low contamination levels, flushing water pipes may eliminate the hazard, but in severe cases, pipe replacements might be necessary. Contamination around destroyed buildings poses the highest risk in the water distribution system. It is crucial for authorities to thoroughly assess and address the contamination to ensure public safety.
Fast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area are getting out of control long after California’s normal fire season ends. Powerful Santa Ana winds are not uncommon at this time of year, but these winds arrive after months of drought. This combination has sparked a series of devastating fires that could be an indication of how climate change is changing the way fires occur in the state.
“While the Santa Ana Fire is not new to Southern California, this type of explosive fire event has never occurred before in January and only once in December,” he said. crystal golden At the University of California, Merced.
As of January 8, there were at least four wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The two largest fires were the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, each burning more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) in a single day. The fire has killed at least two people, destroyed at least 1,000 homes and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. The fire also threatens NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Getty Museum.
Strong winds in Santa Ana reached up to 129 kilometers per hour (80 mph), fanning the flames and spreading them rapidly. The storm is expected to be the most intense since 2011 and will be accompanied by “very dangerous fire weather conditions.” Forecast lasting until Jan. 8 afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Fire weather could continue until January 10, making it difficult to extinguish the fire.
He said it was the latest in a “highly unlikely series of extreme climate and weather events” that had caused the intense fires. park williams at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Santa Ana is a feature of Southern California weather, but fall and winter rains typically limit fire impact. This year, such wet weather has not arrived yet, leaving the plants dry and on the verge of burning. In addition, a wet winter in 2023 encouraged growth, so there is more vegetation for fuel. Heatwaves and drought throughout 2024 have left the land arid.
The combination of large amounts of good fuel, drought and strong, hot, dry winds creates “the most explosive fire event imaginable,” Colden said.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. It will also take time to understand the role that climate change has played. But there’s reason to think it made the fire worse.
Above-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, likely due in part to climate change, are also contributing to the dry conditions. According to Daniel Swain At UCLA, these are High-pressure ocean ridges formed due to rising ocean temperatures That prevents wet weather carried by the jet stream from reaching Southern California.
This type of high-pressure weather has been occurring more frequently in the region over the past 50 years, which could be a sign of climate change, it said. Daniel Cairn at the University of California, San Diego.
California wildfires spread rapidly on Tuesday as firefighters faced strong winds, dry conditions, and a heatwave that pushed temperatures into triple digits in the Los Angeles area. However, cooler temperatures are predicted, and the fires may soon be contained.
Firefighters were also contending with blazes in western Nevada, just south of Reno, in extremely windy conditions. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for most of Nevada and parts of Southern California. Vast tracts of land were at risk of ignition.
The fires have added pressure to what has already been a busy season for firefighters across the Western U.S., burning nearly 7 million acres, more than double last year’s total. Over 24,000 firefighters were mobilized as of Tuesday.
Rhine fire spreads in Southern California
The Line Fire, burning in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, poses a threat to approximately 65,600 structures. The fire had expanded to 26,400 acres as of Tuesday morning and was only 5% contained, according to CalFire.
Firefighters clean up burned trees and branches as the Rhine Fire spreads in San Bernardino, California, on September 8. Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images
The fire, which started on Thursday night in East Los Angeles, triggered evacuation orders across the area with 9,200 buildings, primarily homes, at risk, said Fire Information Officer Arnold Menjivar.
Menjivar expressed concern about the fire’s proximity to homes in Running Springs, the gateway to Big Bear Lake and Bear Mountain ski resorts.
“We’re very close,” Menjivar said, noting that firefighters were employing an aggressive response strategy but were wary of gusty winds in the canyon. “This is very challenging terrain.”
The Rhine fire led to the formation of its own weather system on Saturday, creating a fire cloud resembling a thunderstorm. Fire clouds emerge when a fire generates its weather pattern. The cloud produced around 280 lightning strikes, which hit the ground. According to the National Weather Service.
Pyrocumulus has also been observed at two other sizable fires in Southern California: the Airport Fire in Orange County and the Bridge Fire in Angeles National Forest.
A red flag warning surrounding the Rhine Fire area is set to expire at 8 pm on Tuesday night, and the arrival of cooler temperatures starting Wednesday “may lead to reduced fire activity and increased fuel moisture,” as per Cal Fire.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday due to the Rhine Fire, with fire officials announcing on Monday that the California National Guard would deploy four Black Hawk helicopters, other aircraft, and 80 soldiers to support the Modular Aerial Firefighting System. Approximately 2,100 firefighters were battling the blaze.
Evacuation Order and fire alerts were issued for several towns in the foothills east of California Highlands, outside San Bernardino, and along the route to Big Bear Lake. The Bear Valley Unified and Redlands Unified school districts canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday due to the fires.
More fires rage in Southern California
Hot, dry weather has fueled additional fires in the Southern California hills, prompting further evacuations.
The Airport Fire erupted on Monday afternoon. A 7-acre forest fire broke out in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, south of Los Angeles. Within hours, the fire had spread to an estimated 5,400 acres, as reported by the Orange County Fire Department. By Tuesday morning, the fire hadexpanded to 9,000 acres, stated the fire department.
Dangerous conditions in the Sierra Nevada foothills
Windy, dry conditions have put firefighters on high alert near Reno, Nevada. The Davis Fire has charred nearly 5,600 acres and is currently 0% contained. As stated in a status update on Tuesday.
The fire Davis Creek Regional Parkbroke out just south of Reno on Saturday, burning substantial timber and brush, causing damage to at least 14 structures, road closures, and evacuations for approximately 12,000 to 14,000 people.
The fire also resulted in power outages, leaving 17,000 customers without electricity on Saturday. About 3,000 customers in Washoe County, Nevada, were still without power as of Tuesday morning. Power outage.Us.
Over 400 personnel are actively combating the blaze. El Dorado County Fire Department video Footage shared on social media depicted intense flames engulfing the densely wooded mountains and thick smoke clouding the sky.
Actor Jeremy Renner is among the community members affected by the Davis fire, and on Sunday, he shared an Instagram Story showing a massive plume of smoke billowing from the mountain. People Magazine Reportedly, he posted additional photos on Tuesday showcasing firefighters in action and a plane releasing pink fire retardant.
Tuesday marks the final day of high temperatures for the most at-risk areas burning in Nevada and Southern California.
A cold front from the Pacific Ocean is expected to lower temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit in Southern California on Wednesday.
A cold front is also anticipated to move into the Reno area on Wednesday, which may not necessarily benefit the fires as it could bring stronger winds.
Canada’s historic wildfire season last year resulted in the burning of numerous trees, causing forests to emit more carbon than the fossil fuel emissions of most countries in 2022, as per a study released on Wednesday.
According to Brendan Byrne, a carbon cycle scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the lead author of the study, “Only China, the United States, and India emit more carbon dioxide annually than these fires. Emissions from these fires are unprecedented in Canada’s history.”
Byrne’s research, published in Nature magazine, estimates that the emissions from the fires (approximately 647 megatons of carbon) are over four times the annual emissions from Canada’s fossil fuel burning. The study predicts that by 2023, about 4% of Canada’s forests will have burned.
While Canada’s forests typically absorb more carbon than they emit, the latest findings suggest a concerning trend where these carbon sinks may be exacerbating emissions. This raises concerns about the reliability of carbon sinks in the future as wildfire patterns evolve.
Byrne stated, “The year 2023 was truly exceptional due to heat, drought, and fire emissions. With summer temperatures projected to normalize in Canadian forests around the 2050s, we might see a rise in the frequency of fires, impacting the carbon storage capacity of forests significantly.”
In 2023, 232,000 individuals were evacuated due to the smoke from the wildfires in Canada, leading to the worst smoke season in modern U.S. history, with cities like New York facing air pollution concerns.
A subway station in the Bronx, New York City, on June 7, 2023. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images file.
To calculate the total carbon emissions from the wildfire season, researchers used satellite data to determine how much atmospheric carbon was absorbed by light. They also noted that Canada experienced exceptional drought and its hottest summer since at least 1980, conditions expected to become more frequent in the future.
Approximately half of the carbon released by human activities remains in the atmosphere, a quarter is absorbed by oceans, and the remaining quarter by terrestrial ecosystems like trees and plants on Earth.
Byrne emphasized, “Changes in the frequency and severity of fires could impact this absorption process. This has significant implications for global carbon emissions.”
Canada’s forested regions account for about 8.5% of global forests, as per a recent study.
The emissions estimates from the researchers align closely with other analyses of the 2023 fires in Canada. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reported approximately 480 megatons of carbon dioxide emissions from fires, which is based on different analytical methods.
Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at Copernicus, noted that the new study corroborated the findings of their research while incorporating additional satellite data to reduce uncertainties. Although the U.S. has not been as affected by Canadian wildfire smoke this season, large carbon dioxide emissions are once again being released.
Parrington mentioned, “Monitoring indicates that 2024 is the second-worst wildfire year in Canada in the last two decades, based on estimated emissions, following 2023.”
Smoke from the wildfires has spread across North America, threatening air quality in much of Canada, California, and the Pacific Northwest.
The fast-spreading fire caused widespread damage in the Canadian alpine resort town of Jasper.
Firefighters in Oregon, Idaho, and California are also battling blazes that are spreading quickly due to gusty winds and high temperatures.
Raging wildfires in western Canada have sent huge plumes of smoke spreading across North America in recent days, with pollution captured in images by NASA satellites, aircraft, and ground-based observatories.
An animation released by NASA on Friday showed smoke blanketing the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories and drifting into other parts of the Midwest, including Montana, Colorado, Kansas, and Wisconsin.
This map uses data from NASA to show the concentration and movement of black carbon, a type of aerosol pollution released by wildfires, over North America from July 17 to July 24.
As of Friday afternoon, there were 948 fires burning in Canada, with 387 of them considered out of control. Canadian Joint Forest Fire Centre The fast-spreading fire caused widespread damage in the popular alpine resort city of Jasper in Alberta and forced the evacuation of 25,000 people.
Massive fires in the Pacific Northwest and California are also polluting the air nearby. Air quality alerts and watches have been issued in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming over the past week. Smoky skies have also been reported in North Dakota, South Dakota, and across the High Plains.
Oregon is experiencing the largest wildfire season in the US, fueled by lightning, high temperatures, and strong winds, with more than 35 out-of-control wildfires burning a combined total of nearly 1 million acres in the state.
In neighboring Idaho, fast-spreading fires forced the evacuation of the entire town of Juliaetta on Thursday, with more than 600 residents evacuated as the Gwen Fire and other wildfires burning in the area continued to grow.
Cities in Oregon, Montana, California, and Idaho topped the list of places with the worst air quality in the country on Friday. According to IQAir: For example, air pollution levels in Burns, Oregon, were listed as “hazardous,” while air quality in Stevensville, Montana, was listed as “very unhealthy,” according to a Swiss air quality monitoring company.
In California, the Park Fire has already burned more than 250 square miles in the Chico area since starting on Wednesday and remained uncontained as of Friday morning.
Firefighters are also battling the lightning-fought Gold Complex Fire in California’s Plumas National Forest, which has burned more than five square miles since July 22. As of Friday afternoon, the fire was only 11 percent contained, and winds are causing the blaze to spread quickly. According to the California Fire Department.
Smoke from wildfires that have spread eastward to New England and south to Mexico is having a variety of effects on human health.
In addition to black carbon, wildfires release carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, a variety of chemicals, and tiny particles called particulate matter into the air. Together, these substances can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs and worsen the conditions of diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and chronic kidney disease.
Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with asthma or other existing respiratory conditions are at greatest risk from wildfire smoke.
Thunderstorms have played a role in igniting many wildfires in Canada and the western United States, with gusty winds, high temperatures, and more thunderstorms fanning the flames.
Summer wildfires are common in western Canada and the United States, but scientists say climate change is making them more dangerous by creating more favorable conditions for fires to start and spread. Rising temperatures also drier vegetation, making it more flammable.
Recent research suggests that wildfires are no longer subsiding overnight, with their dynamics fueling some of the most extreme and damaging fires.
A study published in the scientific journal Nature indicates that drought is the primary factor causing wildfires to burn during the night. Scientists have observed an increase in the frequency and intensity of overnight fires, a trend they expect to worsen as global temperatures rise due to climate change.
Mike Flanigan, the study author and a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University in the UK, noted that historically, firefighters used to find relief at night knowing fires typically calmed down. However, this is no longer the case. Fires are now burning hot and intense enough to persist through the night, making firefighting operations riskier and evacuations more complex. Understanding the conditions that lead to nighttime fires can help emergency managers make better decisions in addressing these hazards.
According to Jennifer Balch, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, the study highlights how climate change is contributing to the increase in wildfires and extreme fire behavior. Researchers have used satellite imagery data to examine over 23,500 fires from 2017 to 2020, identifying a trend where fires can last through the night, particularly in the early stages of large fires. Such fires pose significant risks, especially when they occur at night when people are less prepared.
Balch emphasized that recent wildfires have demonstrated the dangers of nighttime fires, such as the Tubbs Fire in California in 2017 and the McDougal Creek Fire in British Columbia in the Kelowna area. The study also underscores the importance of monitoring drought conditions in predicting overnight fire behavior and assisting emergency responders in proactive decision-making.
The study further emphasizes that human-induced global warming, coupled with expanding communities in fire-prone areas, is putting a strain on firefighting resources and increasing the complexity of managing wildfires. Balch’s research highlights the need to shift towards building fire resilience and acknowledging the challenges faced by firefighters who are continuously battling the escalating threat of wildfires.
Unusually warm temperatures, dry grass, and a sudden strong wind cold front combined to create the conditions for the devastating wildfires that raged through parts of Texas this week.
The winds that sparked wildfires in the Texas Panhandle came at the perfect time for destruction, “like a hurricane hitting land at high tide,” said Texas climatologist John Nielson Gammon. Ta. He added that hot, dry temperatures, which may be promoted by climate change, helped create the conditions for these fires to start.
On Monday, temperatures reached the mid-80s in some parts of the state's arid region and several wildfires began burning.
The next day, arctic air swept in from the north on a severe cold front. Winds on either side of that front could exceed 50 miles per hour, causing flames to roar through the dormant grass, Nielsen-Gammon said. The cold front arrived in the late afternoon when wind speeds were highest and changed direction as it passed, maximizing the rate of fire spread.
It is not clear how the fire started.
Firefighters work at the scene of the Smokehouse Creek Fire near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday. Hanazuka Fire Department
“The timing of the weather during the day was probably the worst,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “If wildfires were to occur, these weather patterns would occur.”
The fire spread through the area so quickly that firefighters had little chance to extinguish it.
“Those fires were, all things considered, very fast-moving for a wildfire. We've seen speeds in the 5 to 10 mph range,” said National Weather Service meteorologist in Amarillo. Christian Rangel said. “The strong winds really helped push them around and get them out of control.”
The region's topography also plays a role, with open land facilitating fire establishment and rapid spread, while making firefighting difficult.
Although the area is mostly flat, it is characterized by “broken terrain” with sand and grass that makes it difficult to access, said Luke Canclairs, chief of forecasting services for the Texas A&M Forest Service. It can be difficult to do so. As a result, once a fire hit the plains, it was difficult to extinguish it quickly.
“A fire moving at about 8 miles per hour may not sound that fast, but when you have a large fire front and you're trying to contain a large area, it can far outpace the firefighting effort,” Kankleerts said. .
The Texas Panhandle is used to in-the-face winds and roller-coaster temperatures. But the fires would not have been as likely to occur if it weren't for unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions made more likely by climate change.
“This particular event would not have been as devastating had it happened at the same time several decades ago,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “These high temperatures can occur early in the season and usually occur when the grass is dormant, so there is a lot of dry fuel available.”
John Abatzoglou, a climatologist at the University of California, Merced, said wind was the biggest factor in the size of the nearly 1 million-acre fire, according to the federal government's wildfire tracking website Inchweb.
“This is primarily a wind-driven fire,” Abatzoglou said, adding that the role of climate change is “more subtle than we generally think.”
Abatzoglou said winds initially blew from the west, spreading the fire in the shape of an oval on the map, but then turned about 90 degrees and began pushing that line southward.
Abatzoglou said there is little hard evidence about how climate change is changing wind speeds.
Temperatures in the Borger area near where the fire started reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, the news agency said. National Weather Service data.
Rangel said the Amarillo forecast area “has set records at many weather stations,” with relative humidity readings below 20 percent in many parts of the state and the landscape on the verge of flaming. added.
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