Despite several early blazes and one of the state’s largest so far, experts worry California’s wildfire season could get worse when the seasonal winds responsible for fanning some of the biggest fires arrive.
A CNN report out this week queries wildfire experts about the season so far and their worries for what could be next.
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The report notes that the fires so far in the season have occurred without the aid of “the hot, dry air of the Santa Ana and Diablo winds” that blow from the desert, over the mountains to coast.
“These winds create easily ignitable, bone-dry fuels and blow so intensely they can morph a small flame into a massive blaze,” the news report states.
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So far, CalFire reports 6,332 wildfires burning nearly 1 million acres, not far from the average of 950,000 burned per season acres. Fires this year have damaged or destroyed 1,687 structures.
However, among those numbers have been some large and dangerous blazes.
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The Park Fire in July became the became the fourth largest in state history by burning 429,603 acres. It is mostly doused, with 99% containment.
The fire destroyed 709 properties and damaged 74.
The Bridge Fire, which covers Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, is the next biggest active but mostly contained wildfire in the state. It burned 54,878 acres and is 79% contained. The Line Fire in San Bernardino County burned 39,232 acres and is 75% contained. The Airport Fire, also in Southern California, burned 23,526 acres and is 88% contained. It destroyed 160 structures and damaged 34, according to CalFire.
As the blazes have burned, the state’s insurance commissioner has been ordering some homeowners insurance relief.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies to preserve residential insurance coverage for 750,000 policyholders affected by the Airport, Bridge, and Line fires in the counties of Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino.