by Benjamin Juan
Lately there have been many fires in our area burning thousands of acres and homes. In 2018, 7579 wildfires in California have burnt 1,667,855 acres of land. An acre is equal to 43560 square feet. So far at least 21 people have lost their lives to the fires (15 civilians, 6 firefighters) but more than 600 people have been reported missing due to the fires. In 2016 90% of fires were caused by people. They were caused by fires people left burning, burning debris, people smoking cigarettes (another reason why those are bad), or arson (starting a fire with the intent to burn something down illegally). Only a small amount of fires were actually natural causes like lightning.
The Mendocino complex fire is the largest fire this year as it was a combination of the Ranch Fire and the River Fire and it burnt 459,123 acres before it was fully contained.
Lots of people have lost their homes and money and don’t have anywhere to go. You can help by donating to charities that help people that have been affected by these fires. Also, many of these fires are close to where we live, you never know which direction they head next. It is a good idea to discuss this with your parents or whoever you live with at home. You should have a good evacuation plan in case of an emergency. Always be prepared for what happens next.
Lots of people have lost their homes and money and don’t have anywhere to go. You can help by donating to charities that help people that have been affected by these fires. Also, many of these fires are close to where we live, you never know which direction they head next. It is a good idea to discuss this with your parents or whoever you live with at home. You should have a good evacuation plan in case of an emergency. Always be prepared for what happens next.