WiNK
We have all seen that the news coverage of the Wildfires out west has increased recently, even though the damage has been taking place for months. As CNN reports, "since the start of 2020, wildfires in California have burned over 3.2 million acres of land -- an area almost the size of Connecticut." Almost 16,500 firefighters have been fighting around 28 wildfires. The skies are blazing red, the air is thick with smoke, residents are forced inside and many are without power. Others have been forced to flee their homes while 35 people have died, 24 in California alone. Helicopters have been dropping water on the fires but without an end in sight for the high wind speeds, they cannot compete with the spread of the blazes.
View in San Francisco, CA (taken by my aunt's friend)
At this point, federal assistance is necessary, but with political parties increasingly at odds, a consensus is unlikely. Climate change has been credited with this natural disaster's increase over the past few years, but when asked about it, the President responded "Well, I think this is more of a management situation. If you look at other countries, if you go to other countries in Europe, Austria, Finland ... they're forest nations. They're in forests and they don't have problems like this," (CNN). Without an agreement by the federal government, not much can be done.
My aunt and uncle live in Novato, CA, luckily not close to the fires so far this year. In the past, they have had to evacuate their house when they have been much closer. Unfortunately, for over a week the air quality has been unhealthy. My aunt says, "the kids can't play outside, everything is covered in ash, and outdoor activities such as the pool and tennis were canceled." With the current pandemic, you cannot socialize indoors and with the levels of smoke in the air, you cannot outside either. They are hoping that it will clear out soon so they can spend time outside.
View from their house in Novato, CA
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/14/us/california-wildfires-monday/index.html