Wildfires 2023:
Currently, wildfires have been occurring all around the globe most notably in Canada & Maui. A wildfire is a fire that spreads quickly primarily in vegetation it’s unpredictable and uncontrollable. They are also coming up more frequently due to the heat waves the world is experiencing because of climate change.
Canada Wildfires:
Canada has around 8,000 wildfires per year, but there has been a drastic increase due to extreme heat from climate change.
On July 17th, 2023, Canada’s wildfires caused thick hazes of smoke covering several parts of the U.S. mostly in NYC. According to an article posted by The Guardians Kathy Hochu advised that “In some areas will reach an unhealthy level in western and central New York, and Eastern Lake Ontario” Amatulli, Jenna, The Guardian, 27 June 2023. Most importantly, people who should avoid breathing in smoke are young children, infants, and people with asthma.
Nearly 70 million people across 32 states have been affected by this. Most are taking safety precautions by wearing masks or just simply staying at home. Residents have been asked to refrain from mowing lawns, burning wood, or throwing out firewood outside due to these conditions.
This has been a record for Canada since they never experienced this many wildfires, They had been used to their traditional firefighting strategies but they never were prepared for this.
The Aftermath:
It has been over a week since smoke filled New York streets but it seems the air quality has seemed to be better. Everyone is safe to go outside but some areas of New York may still have a haze of yellow smoke.
The fires have caused thousands upon thousands of indigenous people to flee their homes due to the burnings. But since the fires have cooled down some are returning back.
Maui Wildfires:
On Tuesday, August 8th the deadliest wildfires increasingly started to occur all over parts of Maui, killing 114 and 850 missing or uncounted for. These fires have burned homes, buildings, and schools. Another issue occurring is the burning of gas stations causing toxic fumes to be released into the air letting people inhale and breathe it in.
Many as soon as they got in their cars and tried to escape while others were at their homes relaxing when police officers knocked on their doors with loudspeakers warning them of the damage going on outside. “Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said police officers drove up and down streets, knocking on doors and using loudspeakers to tell people to leave, but he didn’t say exactly where and what time those efforts occurred.” (Boone, Apnews, Aug 23, 2023).
This not only has an effect on the buildings and the vegetation surrounding people who live there but how they go about their day-to-day lives, A lot of people are probably asking themselves what happens next. They don’t have jobs, a school to attend, for most a family to comfort, and a place to call home. Most people affected by the burnings find themselves on the streets of Maui. And others are facing the death of family members, friends, and neighbors.
Though the future of Maui is unclear, the government continues to day by day search for missing people or the remains of others. To slowly start the rebuilding of Maui restoring what it was before.
