Greater evaporation as a result of global warming

Warning signs today


Greater evaporation as a result of global warming
could increase the risk of wildfires.


The 1999-2002 national drought was one of the three most extensive droughts in the last 40 years


Warming may have lead to the increased drought frequency that the West has experienced over the last 30 years.


The 2006 wildland fire season set new records in both the number of reported fires as well as acres burned. Close to 100,000 fires were reported and nearly 10 million acres burned, 125 percent above the 10-year average.


If warming continues to exacerbate wildfire seasons, it could be costly. Fire-fighting expenditures have consistently totaled upwards of $1 billion per year.


FEMA blasted for 'news' conference (click here)
Agency employees, not reporters, asked questions at the event. Homeland Security calls the lapse 'offensive and inexcusable.'
By Jordy Yager, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer October 27, 2007
WASHINGTON — No one had any hard questions for the deputy administrator of FEMA, an agency deeply tarnished by its delayed action after Hurricane Katrina, when he held a news conference Tuesday to talk about the California wildfires."Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?" someone asked....



California Wildfires Cause Air Pollution (click here)
It appears that the Southern California wildfires have caused quite a bit of damage to the air quality as much of the air is now polluted and actually quite dangerous.
Health officials are urging that the elderly and people who have breathing problems to stay inside due to the polluted air caused from the falling ash of the fires.
Over 12 fires still rage on in California as the South Coast Air Quality Management District continues to get calls asking what they should do about the immense amount of pollution.
Soot particles have caused the air quality to go way down to unhealthy levels.
Agency spokesman Sam Atwood stated "Our answer is to use common sense. If you can see smoke or falling ash, that means it's time to start curtailing your outdoor activity."
Hospitals are expected to be seeing morme and more people come in with breathing problems in the coming days.
Health experts are stating that the most dangerous aspects of the wildfire are the fine particles which the eye cannot see. These can get into the lungs and cause diseases such as asthma to worsten.