Heavy Smoke rises from the Cameron Peak fire as it continues to burn on Oct. 5, 2020 in Larimer County near Fort Collins, Colorado. Helen H. Richardson / MediaNews Group / The Denver Post via Getty Images
For the second time this year, Colorado is battling the largest wildfire in state history.
<p>Strong winds pushed the Cameron Peak fire 17 miles to the east Tuesday and Wednesday, <a href="https://wildfiretoday.com/2020/10/14/strong-winds-push-cameron-peak-fire-east-prompting-more-evacuations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wildfire Today reported</a>. It burned more than 20,000 acres in a single day, swelling to 158,300 acres by 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and placing at least nine new areas under evacuation orders, the <a href="https://eu.coloradoan.com/story/news/2020/10/14/largest-wildfire-colorado-history-cameron-peak-fire/3659545001/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fort Collins Coloradoan reported</a>.</p>
<div id="76933" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7d898cedb438dfd8534d4f496549ca2b"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1316578050574897153" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Here is the #CameronPeakFire map created with data from the multi mission aircraft (MMA) flight earlier today. Th… https://t.co/PQanYpzbyT</div> — Canyon Lakes Ranger RD (@Canyon Lakes Ranger RD)<a href="https://twitter.com/usfsclrd/statuses/1316578050574897153">1602731642.0</a></blockquote></div>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyMDA2OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDk2MjgxMX0.kIfbtaRMKrM71wvz48H6dVC8P4GP5U0buEVJr3V3Vbo/img.png?width=980" id="89059" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4833a1292ec73bbdc9abcc80faf7ed51" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1168" data-height="612" />
<p>"This really was almost an epic day for doing evacuations and again, for everybody that's been moved, I know it's extremely difficult," officials said Wednesday night, as <a href="https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/10/14/cameron-peak-fire-largest-wildfire-colorado-history/" target="_blank">CBS4 Denver reported</a>. "We do know that we lost structures today and for anybody who is impacted, you know, our heart goes out to you."<br></p><p>One family lost two cabins they owned in the Buckhorn Canyon area.</p><p>"The materials is one thing," Parker Hutchinson told CBS4 Denver. "But the amount of family heirlooms and just the memories of that area, they've been burned."</p><p>Despite these individual tragedies, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said the day could have been even worse.</p><p>"We have no reported injuries, no deaths, a lot fewer structures were impacted that we truly anticipated based on what we saw with that said, there's certainly a lot of folks that got hit," he said, as <a href="https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/14/cameron-peak-fire-spreads-quickly-into-more-populated-areas/" target="_blank">Colorado Public Radio reported</a>.</p>
<div id="f67b3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab50c11f23a7fdd3176e6fc537d96ed2"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1316443792988352522" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Time lapse sent by a colleague (with permission to share), taken near the mouth of the Big Thompson canyon… https://t.co/phRPfP4sAs</div> — Russ Schumacher (@Russ Schumacher)<a href="https://twitter.com/russ_schumacher/statuses/1316443792988352522">1602699633.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The Cameron Peak fire has been burning since Aug. 13 in the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest. It has persisted despite a snowstorm in early September and more snow on Sunday, fueled by high winds and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought" target="_self">drought</a>. It had already destroyed or damaged 99 structures before exploding Tuesday, and officials said conditions were still too dangerous to assess the total number of buildings impacted in the last 24 hours. It is now 56 percent contained and more than 1,000 people are fighting it.</p><p>The fire is burning to the west of Fort Collins, but Smith said he did not think the flames would reach that more populous area or the nearby city of Loveland because they are protected by bodies of water and a lack of the heavy timber that feeds the flames.</p><p>The two largest fires in Colorado history both ignited this year. The Cameron Peak fire unseated the Pine Gulch fire, which burned 139,007 acres over the summer and held the record for only 48 days.</p>
<p>The ten largest fires in Colorado history all took place in the last 20 years, and seven took place in the last 10, according to figures reported by the Fort Collins Coloradoan.</p><p>As of August, 2020 was Colorado's third driest year on record and twelfth warmest, according to <a href="https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/20/colorado-wildfires-climate-change-drought-snowpack/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colorado Public Radio</a>. Almost a fourth of the state is experiencing extreme drought. These fire-fueling conditions are in line with what scientists say the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> will do to the state.</p><p>"What we're seeing here is indicative of the fact that when the hot, dry years come around, they're hotter than most of the time when they've occurred in the past," state climatologist Russ Schumacher told Colorado Public Radio. "And that's pretty well in line with what climate projections have been saying for some time."</p>
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Smoke from the Glass Fire rises from the hills on September 27, 2020 in Calistoga, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Just days after a new report detailed the "unequivocal and pervasive role" climate change plays in the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, new fires burned 10,000 acres on Sunday as a "dome" of hot, dry air over Northern California created ideal fire conditions over the weekend.
<p>In Napa County, the <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/MVsnnZz8yLxW6P5d-B4dc0qsW8LzBkh4gwXy7N9cd5Jc3p_b1V1-WJV7CgWgFVy0qkd5XbdwLW5rt4gV4w-xTxV-h4Sg7DzJBzW5VDwxQ3l7DhlVCBttb6m7nxWW8h_xDy6FQdyWN1MjKcdcmhpSW2PLWml7pwBvcW1F6-cJ2tvc7YVLFDBf6T5bxTW23C4-w3v4S8DN8Q-7gX1b8vjW7qpRrH4rKWlkW30JwJZ855nXJW19qdGb16-Nl-W3j2wJ85gX-N5W23Yjdj2WwgVkW1jYthC6rq58qW84KgzL4s_BFqN1gy5rt_sw_1W6SFvpr79sx-dW8BvcQr56DrDjW4QJnYK7VYJQqW3pXL934WSgQ_VkF-F63ZtxGzW3LYfZW47SGGpW8QTrvx7qv7wjW6fxRYj96cjcGW42NZpM87shmPW6_T2nL6KbSm_2jj1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Glass Fire</a> burned more than 2,500 acres, forcing at least 2,000 residents and a hospital to evacuate and threatening about 2,200 structures. </p><p>The fire tore through vineyards and jumped two rivers Sunday evening and was zero percent contained as of late Sunday night. </p><p>"It's a cremation," Craig Battuello, whose family has raised grapes in St. Helena for more than a century, told KPIX.</p>
<p>As of Monday morning, the Shady and Boysen Fires, burning near the Sonoma-Napa county line were believed to be spot fires from the Glass Fire. </p><p>Further north, the <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/MVsnnZz8yLxW6P5d-B4dc0qsW8LzBkh4gwXy7N9cd5Jc3p_b1V1-WJV7CgCKFW50rbql5Kh3Q5N2KHP3P2ScQpW1P-1sG1C8V06W2CLx6N7GgT9BW8qGKpg2vggG-N8vd4vHfRgblW8zkwnS7lVrSGVcvmJ783gfdwW6jC5L78V29r2W2c49zy50gjRHW1ZlstL5wlHn9W6XZmDT55sqxNVCbwwc7xFcL0W6_mQlr1b_tzxN15BHn-N0nvsW6xCrys8JvpZRN2yl4Z979WpGW9jcx4F5zKNh_W4fwqXR5CcvncW4RDx9Z3wWt60N10kQLMKP46nW2JkYKK1j91VMW8928mj2dj6KdW7KgRGL7GLxJyW7yzmXm8dT1KxW8ZDR5K92wwwvW7W69vt7mSF4TW2BvFh62rGtxHW2Mr1r98ZFby7W98zv6k3y1t0n2jH1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zogg Fire</a> had burned 7,000 acres as of Sunday evening. </p><p>Electricity will be shut off for 65,000 Northern California customers in 16 counties to prevent the spread of the fires.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p>Increased frequency and intensity: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54278988?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8qp2mUDhBu291ydfwMMiNGyBDHagoosg_k0IqcpI7CtDhXLM4ZmHgVGa2PRKbaxWoLM6t_MPwLlThcOqkbF70YlOx1D3YHNqvErsDeqFeQuAoxwfg&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">BBC</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/09/25/stories/1063714657?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9sDZNbxU236xY4m-Wo12Sv03RABQinScs_T_bXj4OydAg0HafEAxz-H2tjZKojcYTytgAwY8kgfctp1KmPD3T51QSw1yqzM2Lj9nwXcoZ5f1nJLS4&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a>; Weekend conditions: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/09/27/california-wildfires-winds-heat/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--eGMrt1syferudaktlGVVKMEY0GtRdCEFE9kh0KVmGUeUqMyFxCIQ0uuU2lQiOoEr4QLg9SDVH3DRcvNTzOD1qgp5_WGz9BcjX4N6GuTxUYJeS0iY&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/25/california-heatwave-temperatures-wildfires?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-852YwT7VEURpg5t5xAoR9oxVViLPVsN2P0wwSp11Y3ArzCpfgKhMttNcRhmr_ZAomIiv3yOhYRU9x44rztsRiJh1QWy3JUwMnn5w_RhEaPG7mkePg&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Hot-temperatures-high-fire-danger-and-slightly-15599419.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_deidYKtyzBYgRzfz2uTLKmxXv7ayQ9lx4prpYBmk0kLTr7XmVEO45lydcOhKT74ojRRHrUShZFsnjD4TQoNdt38iAOjvFlvIkNgg1flRtlzrqUkw&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>; Fires: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/28/us/california-wildfires-zogg-fire-glass-fire-monday/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_6pqkRWXQh8abROXh8Hd8JX9gf5cB1_tgZjEct1oPBJU-OrfFF6Q8f60lOTKo-GU2tzseTSf9Kv0RNIhWzEacsX3m07IuEMen-BjYaTXskOaX9vMk&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/09/28/wildfire-erupts-near-st-helena-evacuations-underway-in-neighborhoods-near-silverado-trail/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mQ894hiDyvTPS1n2NPmnSWmEw4Lq7lWXD4R9cqHT4X8F9PuphlEQ31smYpTnEAm9eJ1U4o02_809pVEuttvmBz9a4J9bK1xqiiT0eCKP6tAb7aQk&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KPIX</a>, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/calistoga-st-helena-deer-park-wildfire-evacuations-15600692.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9F4-Wab7eZREhnULDmGIV0k9x_NThFQU5_MSquHuNaZDkQ7bRH6a4Yu-qDDXa55xAVioefHg3tLRHunHs43IHEeaKIrF1QvA6KBmbV5pgy7QjydDY&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Gate</a>, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-wildfires0st-helena-wine-country-napa-county-today-2020-09-28/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9P0BbBx9nYT3T_1W-lOffDYHQEjYmkZbDQQIibib1tKlKDaqb51l8wXnA6X5XEXFXkzvfGhFT2z79GUksHfelxxg4MVYL0bPHMOlCY5A65LlPsFHc&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/early-morning-napa-county-fire-grows-to-800-acres/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Exio8Ld8lxE0RHLM1p_BgKjdAw9k32hG2HsVJiYGLt3RNPgtSKhF03njhfHjzZlgD9DRwXqHzr10D8ESwuVg7A9wh0Rp9bPno6hjxvZ3wuXPRzPo&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Press Democrat</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/Wildfire-breaks-out-near-St-Helena-in-Napa-15600677.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-99w-thHE2aSzf_q6Xk1dgS6yrogihar09euhVC0DLPcYKVgtV0q10OqQhPZWSfU4T404sedEO8ONHYXClq4HmIwj3L2Qe3_8lbm7JIt2LVUjLJxCc&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://abc7news.com/wildfires-trigger-new-evacuation-orders-in-napa-county/6619307/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ABC-7 KGO News</a>, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/27/fire-breaks-out-in-napa-as-forecasters-predict-hot-smoky-week/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-91dr7E9vqo3PKR-X9I3GwmK5scJrwMwNSrP6keEdMz9OtJtMplme2bHxd5_ifedEYGRxjWBUN_ENqITOVBN2pUdFobXvQHWm5LUisYU0sJcru9b4Q&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mercury News</a>, <a href="https://krcrtv.com/news/local/fire-breaks-out-in-igo?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YUqKikCN8aIADKO_iTe_OqXWKrw5UUYBNuwNHJX914J9zo_nLfPjCd-7DlhquzwJJgLe53hGZYorAMbJ5AOb1Rdx0xVYXjwwjj12TjjjHrZSqmSs&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KRCR</a>, <a href="https://sfist.com/2020/09/27/napa-county-glass-fire-grows-to-over-800-acres-more-evacuations-underway-structures-burned-as-blaze-continues-ballooning/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ltVJVENifXl3oUfL35FYoQ3V3kLoZchjPypQecv1NlGERt1mMFbUPlwXdxHLOeAV8faIokxuwaY3ytvFDyz795UAyxF-uYAMOrgf-OfhGLD196vg&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SFist</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/California-blazes-exploding-New-evacuations-from-15602171.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dkNr9eCqgGEvxi7dOEa1aCUevyW70sAoQecnkS5HXDhUnLD7j22Q0CbtWWj-QIZOAHcVir2IcolKHa58GHN4jLhEp03DjMLML6hxI0-aY6EQnV3w&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://weather.com/news/news/2020-09-27-california-napa-county-glass-fire-impacts-evacuations?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dHhWSMpBzxlxna9RotW7frfqtFg37auwCIa7aomquA5T0AocvkVfG4cXDC46SDmnLmRY5H4DZleZFT5J6o5pqaqGxhrrOfvJpMSabN5m_8ToB39A&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Weather Channel</a>; Climate signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-change-wildfires?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9zQsXAgonNscvqMBp2K5xbAheSFH5-kQT_5wAP3h2PJMHU4BrnyEMk0rDW8Y7i6GEy__b9ICr4Wq88tNUf6Y10Q4t9gWyCHDhIjx7tiiHjVdBBP8A&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wildfires</a>, <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/events/western-wildfire-season-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_jlihPzlQ5DGWbcnHKcnMuMmAZLm2WudQwftKMhR4ey5l8X06_xMSJqNkdNBq4nj6SMP1pr2rIH_4BDtVYCZ5dB2V6pRZ_Ka6CMg6qOQFA0koy2Z8&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2020 Western wildfire season</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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To truly get the most out of life, a person needs to be able to get a good night's sleep, which has led many to wonder if there is anything behind the idea of CBD for sleep improvement.
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.sleephealth.org/sleep-health/the-state-of-sleephealth-in-america/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Sleep Apnea Association</a>, an estimated 50 to 70 million people in the United States spanning all ages and socioeconomic classes suffer from sleeplessness. Both men and women are impacted by sleep disturbances, and according to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society</a>, adults aged 18-60 years old need at least seven hours of sleep each night to realize optimal health and well-being. </p><p>Ultimately, when a person does not get the sleep they need they run the risk of developing many chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other mental health issues. Therefore, a person must develop good sleep practices and implement strategies both during the day and before bed that will allow them to get the sleep they need to have a great life. </p><p>In this article, we will explore why Americans have problems sleeping, discuss strategies for improving sleep, and most importantly investigate the role that CBD for sleep improvement could play in helping people achieve a healthy sleep cycle.</p><h2>Our Top CBD Oils for Sleep</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://takespruce.com/?rfsn=2546834.ac5974&subid=EW_Sleep" target="_blank">Spruce CBD Oil</a> - Strongest CBD Oil for Sleep</li><li><a href="https://cbdistillery.vxoy.net/52VD3" target="_blank">CBDistillery CBN + CBD Oil</a> - Best for Sleep Specifically</li><li><a href="https://plantpeople.pxf.io/av09o" target="_blank">Plant People CBN Oil</a> - Best for Calming and Sleep</li></ul><h2>How We Picked the Best CBD Oils for Sleep</h2><p>For the sake of this article, the source and quality of the CBD oils that we will discuss were properly vetted. All recommended products were derived from industrial hemp grown in the United States and contains under 0.3% THC, which is required by law. Additionally, all products have been tested by third-party labs to ensure their quality and safety.</p><p><span></span>When reviewing CBD brands and products, we focus on six major factors:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>Value</strong> — is the brand's CBD oil affordable compared to similar products?</li><li><strong>Strength</strong> — how much CBD and what type of CBD does their oil contain?</li><li><strong>Source </strong>— where does the company source their hemp and how is the CBD extracted?</li><li><strong>Flavor</strong> — does the product come in any flavors and do they flavor them naturally?</li><li><strong>Transparency</strong> — do they offer third-party lab test results and information about each batch of CBD?</li><li><strong>Customer experience</strong> — what do customer have to say about the product and purchasing experience?</li></ul><p>Using these standards we were able to select the best CBD oils for sleep. Learn more about our choices below.</p>
<h2>Why is sleep important?<br></h2><p>Sleep plays an important role in your mental and physical health. When you have a healthy sleep cycle, your body and mind are able to engage in many restorative processes including healing and repairing cognitive and cardiac functions. Even though you may be dreaming, your body is actively working, boosting your immune system, fighting inflammation, regulating digestive processes, and so much more. </p><p>Without healthy sleep, one's body will not be able to effectively fight off diseases and the brain cannot function properly. This not only leads to physical health issues but also can result in a lack of concentration and clear thinking as well as impediments when trying to process and retain memories. </p><p>Sleep problems can also break down the circadian rhythm. For instance, light directly impacts this process. Inside the brain, there is a region of nerve cells called the hypothalamus. Within the hypothalamus is a cell cluster called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Here signals are processed when the eyes are exposed to natural or artificial light, which helps the brain identify whether it is day or night. When natural light dissipates in the evening, melatonin, a natural hormone, is released in the body, which is why you feel drowsy as the night wears on. </p><p>In the morning, as you near your wake cycle, cortisol, another hormone, is released, which helps you feel alert and ready for the day. This is the basis of a healthy sleep cycle, and when it is disrupted, or if your body doesn't produce the natural hormones it needs to regulate this cycle, then you may find yourself suffering for shut-eye. </p><h2>Common Causes of Sleep Loss</h2><p>Poor sleep can be caused by many different factors, including chronic pain, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. Financial and relationship worries can be culprits as well. </p><p>However, as we noted, CBD not only has the potential for helping as a sleep aid and improving sleep quality but also can mitigate and manage anxiety and assist with pain relief through its anti-inflammation properties.</p><h2>Impacts of insomnia</h2><p>Insomnia is a serious sleep disorder that can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). While it is incredibly common and can cause a person to have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking far too early, the fact is, insomnia can drastically impact your energy level, your work performance, your quality of life, and has the potential to cause negative physical and mental health outcomes. Insomnia can be caused by stress, work and travel schedules, diet and exercise habits, too much screentime, life events such as divorce, job loss, and grief, medications, and more. </p><p>According to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>, chronic insomnia can result in many of the health conditions we have referenced, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc., and can also cause depression and anxiety. </p><p>Many people who have insomnia turn to self-medicating in the form of alcohol and drug abuse because they believe it will help them get to sleep, or they turn to over-the-counter pills and pharmaceuticals, which can be habit-forming and addictive. </p><p>Right now, one in four Americans develops insomnia annually, according to <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180605154114.htm" target="_blank">Science Daily</a>. However, insomnia remains the most prevalent sleep disorder in the United States, and 40 million Americans suffer from chronic insomnia. </p><h2>Can CBD Help Improve Your Sleep?</h2><p>If you feel like your sleep cycle has been completely thrown out of whack, it could be time to look for help in getting back to normal. Even though you may feel tired, you may still be in a position where sleep alludes you, and it is likely because your body is overloaded with stress hormones and cortisol, which is what is keeping you awake. This is where CBD for sleep might offer a solution.</p><p>Cannabidiol, also known by the acronym CBD, has received much attention recently for its potential to help with a wide range of ailments, including anxiety, mood enhancement, and more. Another area it could assist with is its ability to induce sleepiness and help you get a good night's rest.</p><p>According to a 2019 study published in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Permanente Journal on behalf of the National Institutes of Health</a>, CBD was examined for its efficacy in not only treating anxiety problems and post-traumatic stress disorder but also sleep disorders. The results of the study displayed that the patients treated through the use of CBD over the course of three months saw an improvement in their sleep cycles, as well as a lessening of their anxiety and other mental anguish. Administered in doses of 25 mg of CBD, the cannabidiol was well received. Side effects were minimal and typically related to daytime sleepiness on higher doses of CBD.</p><p>It is believed that CBD can improve sleep processes because it triggers the body's endocannabinoid system, a biological system that is comprised of endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes that regulate a variety of bodily functions, including sleep, memory, appetite, and mood.</p><p>Phytocannabinoids like CBD have the potential to interact on an indirect basis with cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system, thereby encouraging the body to sleep as well as regulate other hormones that contribute to sleep loss.</p><h2>How to Choose the Best CBD for Sleep</h2><p>If you are interested in CBD for sleep quality improvement, then it is important to do your research and realize that not all CBD tinctures are created equal.</p><p>In order to feel confident knowing that you purchased a high-quality CBD product, only buy from a brand that engages in accredited, third-party lab testing and subsequently publishes its lab reports on its website. You must be able to see that what is on the label of your CBD oil actually is validated through testing processes.</p><p>This also ensures that the CBD oil is free of toxins, including pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, and solvents, and contains the concentration of CBD, terpenes, and other cannabinoids and plant parts that it claims.</p><p>Additionally, if you are buying a CBD product specifically to improve sleep quality, then you may want to consider a full-spectrum CBD tincture as opposed to a broad-spectrum or CBD isolate product. We find that many people note that they have a better experience with full-spectrum because it has a broad range of cannabinoids that work together. This creates synergy and effectively triggers the endocannabinoid system.</p><p>Finally, also consider specifically purchasing a product that contains melatonin, which is a natural hormone that regulates sleep alongside wakefulness. Boosting this particular hormone, which is already found in your body, can truly improve your sleep-wake cycle.</p><h2><span></span>Should I Try CBD for Sleep?</h2><p>In conclusion, there is no denying that we live in stressful times and because of that many people in the United States are experiencing problems with achieving healthy sleep patterns. However, there is no need to suffer through another night tossing and turning. CBD for sleep is proven to help regulate sleep cycles, promote restful sleep, and could assist with a variety of other medical conditions.</p><p>Just keep in mind that since CBD oil is not regulated by the FDA, you must do your due diligence. If you are considering introducing CBD for sleep quality improvement in your life, consult with a doctor if you have any existing medical conditions prior to beginning use.</p>
Spruce CBD Oil
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDgwNTgxMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjcwOTUxMX0.aBEHgGmkcQhGmFEDEz-bl0FNSceyYQGbmY22WgzM8eE/img.jpg?width=980" id="76502" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f7902d5965cb564b7275679ef30c1cb8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce cbd oil" />Spruce<ul> <li>$89.00 for 750 mg and $269.00 for 2400 mg.</li><li>Offered in 750 mg with 25 mg of CBD per dropper and 2400 mg with 80 mg of CBD per dropper. </li><li>The tinctures are full-spectrum, made in the United States, lab grade, organic, contain no pesticides, and are third-party tested. </li><li>The 750 mg comes in peppermint flavor and the 2400 mg option has no flavoring added. </li><li>Spruce CBD is a family-owned and operated brand, and they ship to all 50 states.</li></ul><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>We like that this CBD oil comes in extra strength for powerful relief from sleeplessness.</p>
$89
CBDistillery CBN + CBD Sleep Tincture
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDkxODc1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTM4MDU2OX0.aZyEdrv1XlL_LUyokdkGPN6YAok2Xw4oEP6E45FSQ_A/img.jpg?width=980" id="60fb5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c48208979e5cf7c6b3c4007808f6aa91" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="574" data-height="846" /><ul> <li>$60.00 for 150mg of CBN and 450mg of CBD.</li><li>All products are non-GMO and made from natural farming practices.</li><li>CBDistillery also has sleep gummies that are gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, non-GMO, and kosher.</li></ul><p><strong>Why buy:</strong> We like that this oil is specifically formulated for sleep. Additionally, this brand is a good choice for a CBD consumer who wants a full spectrum oil geared toward a particular cannabinoid blend, like CBN.</p>
$60
Plant People CBN Oil
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDkxODY0Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0Njk3MTA1MH0.bU8C46w62NwsM7BqcxdRo3ITynDtNnBq99CnIaOgYgs/img.jpg?width=980" id="3d3d5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dcc503f8a9d169c267a2dbf44ad9ee05" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1112" data-height="1014" /><ul> <li>$49.99 for 360 mg bottle, $78.99 for a 720 mg bottle, and $119.99 for a 1440 mg bottle.</li><li>The 360 mg bottle contains 12 mg of CBD per serving, the 720 mg bottle contains 24 mg of CBD per serving, and the 1400 mg bottle contains 48 mg of CBD per serving. </li><li>The Drops+ Sleep tincture is organic, vegan, non-GMO, lab-tested, gluten-free, Dr. Formulated, CGMP standard, and aligns with a Keto diet. </li><li>It contains the cannabinoids CBD and CBN, as well as terpenes, including Myrcene, which also promotes healthy sleep.</li></ul><p><strong>Why buy: </strong>We like that this product not only helps improve sleep, but it also calms the mind and body, reduces stress, and promotes an inflammatory response to soothe muscles and promote recovery. </p>
$79
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The Glass Fire in Napa County along CA-128 on Sept. 30, 2020 in Calistoga, California. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The California wildfires set a record this year after burning more than 4 million acres in a season that is still going, according to the AP. Fire officials announced the grim new record Sunday, noting that the amount of land the fires have consumed this year is at least double that of any previous fire year.
<p>"Since CAL FIRE officially began recording state responsibility fire figures in 1933, all large fire years have remained well below the 4 million acre mark for acreage burned, until now," said the <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/daily-wildfire-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection</a>, the state's official fire agency, on <a href="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1312852574962241537" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> Sunday. "This year is far from over and fire potential remains high. Please be cautious outdoors."</p>
<p>On Sunday, CAL FIRE announced that this year the state has battled more than 8,200 blazes, which have damaged more than 8,000 structures. The fires have also resulted in 31 deaths. That does not include the damage caused by the fires that raged through Oregon and Washington. Currently, roughly 17,000 firefighters are still working to control and extinguish at least 23 major fires in the state, as <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/10/04/920154138/california-wildfires-have-burned-4-millions-acres-and-the-season-isnt-over-yet" target="_blank">NPR</a> reported.</p><p>"The 4 million mark is unfathomable. It boggles the mind, and it takes your breath away," said Scott McLean, a spokesman for CAL FIRE, as the AP reported. "And that number will grow."</p>
<p>The August Complex Fire is the largest blaze still burning in California. It is burning in Northern California as it has done since it started Aug. 16. It is currently 54 percent contained, according to <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/august-complex-includes-doe-fire/" target="_blank">CAL FIRE updates</a> from Sunday night. On Saturday, wind cleared some smoke. When that happened, high temperatures and low humidity fed oxygen to the fire, giving it new strength, according to the update.</p><p>Fortunately, rain is in the forecast for Northern California this week, which will provide some much needed aid in containing the region's ongoing blazes, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/05/us/california-wildfires-monday-weather-relief/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p>
<p>"A front is pushing through the Pacific Northwest today which is bringing cooler, drier air," CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said on Monday. The areas that are fighting the August Complex Fire, the Zogg Fire and the Glass Fire will all see significant rainfall on Friday, which will last through the weekend.</p><p>"Rain through this period will impact areas from San Diego to Seattle — however the bulk of the rain will occur from the Mendocino area in Northern California to the Canadian border," Guy said, as CNN reported. "This should be something to help the firefighters contain the blazes."</p>
<p>While there is some optimism about next weekend's weather prediction, the immediate forecast is for continued heat that will force firefighters to keep up their relentless efforts to contain the fire.</p><p>"We are seeing some relief in the weather, but it's going to be three of four days before it really makes a difference on the fire," said CAL FIRE meteorologist Tom Bird at a Sunday news briefing about the Glass Fire, as the AP reported. "The one good thing going forward, we're not expecting any wind events to push into the fire."</p><p>As of Sunday morning, the Glass Fire, which started in Napa last week, covered 63,885 acres and was 17 percent contained, as NPR reported.</p><p>The size of this year's fires is more than double the 2018 record of 1.67 million burned acres, or 2,609 square miles, in California, according to the AP. That meant that they affected people who were not in the path of the fires as air quality around the state plummeted and gave an eerie orange hue to the sky. The phenomenon of <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/air-pollution">bad air</a> that made its way into homes prompted a run on air purifiers across the state.</p>
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A home burns during the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills, California on September 18, 2020. Kyle Grillot / AFP/ Getty Images
By Stuart Braun
"These are not just wildfires, they are climate fires," Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State, said as he stood amid the charred remains of the town of Malden west of Seattle earlier this month. "This is not an act of God," he added. "This has happened because we have changed the climate of the state of Washington in dramatic ways."
<p>As megafires devastated the entire West Coast of the U.S., Inslee rejected reference to wildfires since the word implies naturally occurring fires.</p><p>By contrast, the term climate fires explicitly links record-breaking blazes that have burned across California, Oregon and Washington to global heating caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas. </p><p>As California Governor Gavin Newsom inspected the ashen countryside in the county of Oroville in his home state, he doubled down on the source of the fires. "This is a climate damn emergency," he said.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQyNzMwNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTY1MzE3OH0.AJoxfvXx3isdh4RDPwAsP3EQ5hROX38poO_ZU9eRBJ4/img.png?width=980" id="eaf1a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7168b081bbcd14500a8bcef691b4d659" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1920" data-height="4929" /><p>The pointed link to climate has been partly a response to <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/trump-downplays-climate-concerns-over-deadly-us-wildfires/a-54928125" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">President's Donald Trump's insistence</a> that poor forest management, not climate change, is to blame for the fires. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/cable-news/cable-news-largely-failed-mention-connection-between-climate-change-and-wildfires-its" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">research shows</a> barely 13% of broadcast news segments about the West Coast fires during their peak mentioned climate change.</p>
'These Aren't Wildfires'
<p>Sam Ricketts, who led climate policy and strategy for Governor Jay Inslee's 2020 presidential campaign, tweeted on September 11 that "These aren't wildfires. These are #climatefires, driven by fossil fuel pollution."</p><p>"The rate and the strength and the devastation wrought by these disasters are fueled by climate change," Ricketts told DW of fires that have burnt well over 5 million acres across California, Oregon, Washington State, and into neighboring Idaho. </p><p>In a two-day period in early September, Ricketts notes that more of Washington State burned than in almost any entire fire season until now, apart from 2015. </p><p>California, meanwhile, was a tinderbox after its hottest summer on record, with temperatures in Death Valley reaching nearly 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. It has been reported as the hottest temperature ever measured on Earth.</p><div id="29ad9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8346fe7350e1371d400097cd48bf45a2"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306969603180879872" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Drought-parched wetlands in South America have been burning for weeks. https://t.co/pjAKdFcKPg #Pantanal https://t.co/ImN2C5vwcp</div> — NASA Earth (@NASA Earth)<a href="https://twitter.com/NASAEarth/statuses/1306969603180879872">1600440810.0</a></blockquote></div><p>As evidenced by Australia's apocalyptic Black Summer of 2019-2020, fires are burning bigger and for longer, with new records set year-on-year. Right now, Brazil's vast and highly biodiverse Pantanal wetlands are suffering from catastrophic fires.</p>
#climatefires Started in Australia
<p>Governor Inslee this month invoked the phrase climate fires for arguably the first time in the U.S., according to Ricketts.</p><p>But the term was also used as fires burnt out of control in Australia in late 2019. In the face of a 2000km (more than 1,200 miles) fire front, and government officials and media who <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/trump-climate-change-denial-emissions-environment-germany-fake-heartland-seibt/a-52688933" target="_blank">played down the link to climate change</a>, Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and a friend decided that reference to bushfires was inadequate. </p><p>"We both just said, we've got to start calling them climate fires, that's what they are," the Australian Senator told DW.</p><p>Hanson-Young says scientists have been warning for decades that these would be the effects of global heating. "We've been told these kinds of extreme weather events and destruction is what climate change would look like, and it's right here on our doorstep," she said from her home state of South Australia — where by early September fire warnings had already been issued.</p><p>"Calling them climate fires was making it absolutely crystal clear. It is essential that there's no ambiguity," she said </p><p>Having deliberately invoked the term, Hanson-Young soon started to push it on social media via a #climatefires hashtag. </p>How to Talk About the Urgency of Global Heating
<p>The need to use more explicit language when talking about extreme weather events linked to climate change is part of a broader push to express the urgency of global heating. In 2019, activist Greta Thunberg tweeted that the term "climate change" did not reflect the seriousness of the situation. </p><p>"Can we all now please stop saying 'climate change' and instead call it what it is: climate breakdown, climate crisis, climate emergency, ecological breakdown, ecological crisis and ecological emergency?" she wrote. </p><p>"Climate change has for a long time been talked about as something that is a danger in the future," said Hansen-Young. "But the consequences are already here. When people hear the word crisis, they understand that something has to happen, that action has to be taken."</p><p><span></span>Some terms are now used in public policy, with state and national governments, and indeed the EU Parliament, declaring an official climate emergency in the last year. </p>Words That Reflect the Science
<p>But while the West Coast governors all fervently link the fires to an unfolding climate crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to avoid any reference to climate. In a briefing about the fires, he responded to overtures by Wade Crowfoot, California's Natural Resources Secretary, to work with the states on the climate crisis by stating: "It'll start getting cooler. You just watch." Crowfoot replied by saying that scientists disagreed. Trump rejoined with "I don't think science knows, actually." </p><p>It was reminiscent of the anti-science approach to the coronavirus pandemic within the Trump administration, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/donald-trump-admits-playing-down-coronavirus-risks/a-54874350" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">at least publicly</a>. Fossil fuel companies are also benefiting from his disavowal of climate science, with the Trump administration having <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-trumps-paris-climate-accord-exit-isnt-really-a-problem/a-51124958" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pulled out of the Paris Agreement</a> and reopened fossil fuel infrastructure like the Keystone XL pipeline. </p><p>But the science community has responded, with Scientific American magazine endorsing Trump's Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden, the first presidential endorsement in its 175-year history. </p><p>Hanson-Young says the use of explicit language like climate fires has also been important in Australia due to the climate denialism of politicians and the press, especially in publications owned by Rupert Murdoch. As fires burnt out much of Australia's southeast coast, they were commonly blamed on arson — a tactic also recently used in the U.S.</p>Climate Rhetoric Could Help Decide Election
<p>The language of climate has begun to influence the U.S. presidential election campaign, with Democratic nominee Joe Biden labelling President Trump a "climate arsonist."</p><p>Biden is touting a robust climate plan that includes a 2050 zero emissions target and a return to the Paris Agreement. Though lacking the ambition of The New Green Deal, it has been front and center of his policy platform in recent days, at a time when five hurricanes are battering the U.S. Gulf Coast while smoke blanketing the West Coast spreads all the way to the East. </p><p>People are experiencing the climate crisis in a visceral way and almost universally relate to the language of an emergency, says Ricketts. "They know something is wrong."</p>From Your Site Articles
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An aerial view of a neighborhood destroyed by the Camp Fire on November 15, 2018 in Paradise, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
By Timothy Rooks
The many wildfires roaring through America's West Coast don't just look scary, they are bad for people's health, bad for public and private lands, and bad for the economy.
<p>The plumes of smoke have pushed air quality to hazardous levels forcing residents to stay indoors. Now some of the dirtiest air on Earth is wafting along the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles up to the Canadian border. Millions of people are at the mercy of merciless flames.</p><p>So far, well over 5 million acres have burned across California, Oregon, Washington State and neighboring Idaho. Many of the fires are still not under control and tens of thousands of people have been <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/oregon-fires/a-54891910" target="_blank">forced to leave their homes</a> and at least 27 people have died. Many of the survivors have nothing to come back to.</p><p>In August, California was pummeled by an incredible heat wave. Temperatures in Death Valley reached <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/us-death-valley-records-highest-temperature-in-over-a-century/a-54597859" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">130 degrees Fahrenheit</a>, "possibly the hottest temperature ever measured on Earth," according to the <em>New York Times</em>.</p><p>Not surprisingly, up until now most of the talk has been about climate change and how the fires may impact the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/trump-biden-russia-hackers/a-54889346" target="_blank">U.S. presidential election</a>. On September 14, Joe Biden called Donald Trump a "<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/trump-downplays-climate-concerns-over-deadly-us-wildfires/a-54928125" target="_blank">climate arsonist</a>." Ominously one day later, smoke from some of the fires was actually visible above Washington, D.C.</p><p>When the smoke finally clears, the economic impact of so much destruction will be at the top of many people's list.</p>
Counting Up the Losses
<p>The costs around wildfires are multifold. Besides the irreplaceable loss of life and the enormous costs to put out the fires, there are many tangible elements like the damage to vehicles, homes and other buildings. These costs can be roughly calculated by looking at insurance claims.</p><p>Over the years, all of the top 10 costliest wildland fires in the country have been in California. The costliest of all was Camp Fire in 2018, which set insurers back over $8.5 billion, according to numbers tallied by the Insurance Information Institute.</p><p>But the Camp Fire was just one fire. Reinsurer Munich Re estimates the costs for all the wildfires that year to be over $20 billion. So far this year's fires should bring in a similar calculation.</p><p>Currently in California alone, thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed. The state is known for building on steep slopes in rural areas surrounded by forests that are hard to access. And since the fires are still burning with no end in sight, it is impossible to tell how many will be damaged in the end and what the final costs will be. Add to that the fact that not everything is insured, and many things are underinsured and the actual costs get a little fuzzy.</p>Counting the Tourists
<p>It is important to remember that these numbers just include personal property. Damage done to public lands like parks is not added in. What is a single tree worth or a beautiful forest view in a state park anyhow?</p><p>What can be calculated though is how many tourists stay away based on past visitor numbers. The West Coast is world-famous for its natural wonders, wine country and lively cities, so there is no worse publicity than burning trees and a sky filled with smoke to keep tourists away.</p><p>These frightening images have gone around the world and made a deep impression. A bad reputation is hard to get rid of. The travel industry was already suffering because of COVID-19 restrictions, now a recovery on the West Coast will be even harder. </p>Fear and Loathing in LA and Beyond
<p>Other elements more difficult to tally are the costs of things that didn't happen like canceled flights, trains stopped in their tracks, workers on sick leave with respiratory problems, long-term health issues and other lost economic activity, either because a shop or warehouse burned down or there is no one left there to buy the goods.</p><p>Personal safety is also something to consider. Though U.S. housing sales are on a high, after so many natural disasters California may soon been seen as too dangerous a place to live or do business. In the end people may leave the coast for other, safer places.</p><p>Rebuilding is a lot of work and some may not be up to the challenge and may never come back as happened in New Orleans after <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/recovering-from-katrina-will-new-orleans-become-the-worlds-climate-beacon/a-19443437" target="_blank">Hurricane Katrina in 2005</a>. Higher insurance premiums for risky areas could help with these decisions.</p><p>In many ways these wildfires could not have come at a worse time. Besides scorched land, the coastal states will have less money to spend since their economies have been hit by coronavirus-related downturns. California in particular is dependent on global trade and needs huge sums of cash to run the state, invest in more costly firefighting and <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/us-global-standing-plummets-over-coronavirus-response-survey/a-54939242" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">beat COVID-19</a>.</p>Not Out of the Woods
<p>The wildfires in California have gained a lot of attention because of the apocalyptic sky around San Francisco. Yet 2015 was the worst year for wildfires, according to numbers gathered on annual wildland fires in the U.S. by the <a href="https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_stats_totalFires.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Interagency Coordination Center</a>. That year there were over 68,000 fires that destroyed over 10 million acres in the U.S. In a close second place is 2017. Looking at the decades of collected data, the general trend is pointing toward ever more fires.</p><p>So far this year, the fires have not reached the level of 2015. Still experts point out that current higher temperatures, droughts and shorter winters all add to the possibility of more fires. A report issued by the National Interagency Fire Center on September 15 outlined the problem.</p><p>"Generally, most areas across the West received less than 25% of average precipitation in August. The precipitation received was mostly associated with thunderstorms and provided little benefit," according to the report. Not only that, temperatures were generally 2-4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.</p><p>This all means that the traditional fire season is longer than in the past. Frighteningly, in California it has now been extended to cover all 12 months. For years there has not been a month without a wildfire. These extra firefighting missions cost a lot in terms of manpower and equipment and take time away from fire prevention.</p>California Has Huge Economic Impact
<p>California has the highest economic output of any American state, accounting for around 14% of the entire country's tab. Add in Oregon, Washington State and Idaho and the region accounts 19% of U.S. output. With increasing temperatures, climate change and less cash to invest because of the current downturn, the area needs to prepare for more uncontrollable fires.</p><p>Residents and businesses there will need to put fear aside and get used to higher insurance premiums and stricter building codes, or move to less turbulent places. The hot glow of embers may permanently reshape the dynamic West Coast and turn it an unwelcoming place — that would be an economic tragedy and make these wildfires truly costly.</p>
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The Sierra Nevada mountains are among the ranges most at-risk for early snowpack melt. CampPhoto / Getty Images
As the planet warms, mountain snowpack is increasingly melting. But "global warming isn't affecting everywhere the same," Climate Scientist Amato Evan told the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego.
<p>In a recent study, a team of researchers examined if snowpack melted faster in the Western U.S. than in other areas. Their <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-00996-w" target="_blank">findings</a> were published Monday in the journal <em>Nature Climate Change.</em></p><p>Snowpack disappearance is occurring most rapidly in coastal regions and the south, according to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/scientists" target="_blank">scientists</a>. This means that the Sierra Nevadas, Cascades and Southern Arizona mountains are at most risk for melting compared to the Rockies or Utah mountains. </p><p>"As you get closer to the ocean or further south in the U.S., the snowpack is more vulnerable, or more at-risk, due to increasing temperature, whereas in the interior of the continent, the snowpack seems much more impervious, or resilient to rising temperatures," Evan, the study's lead author, told Scripps Oceanography. </p><p>Funded by NOAA's Climate Program Office, the study analyzed regional variations in snowpack melt with temperature increases. Using four decades of observations, the scientists created a new model to understand the "discrepancy in the timing of snowpack disappearance," according to Scripps Oceanography.</p>
<p>They found shorter winters and early springs changed the amount of time snow had to accumulate and cover the ground. "Our theory tells us why that's happening, and it's basically showing that spring is coming a lot earlier in the year if you're in Oregon, California, Washington, and down south, but not if you're in Colorado or Utah," Evan told Scripps Oceanography.</p><p>For example, California's snowpack is not only melting faster but also accumulating less, threatening the state's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/the-california-drought-who-gets-water-and-whos-hung-out-to-dry-1881866570.html" target="_blank">water</a> supply — one-third of which comes from the Sierras, <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/climate-in-crisis/sierra-snowpack-has-major-drop-over-the-past-decade/2475777/" target="_blank">NBC Bay Area reported</a>. Rapid melting could also have "adverse societal effects because it contributes to a longer fire season," Scripps Oceanography wrote.</p><p>During a typical summer, gradual snowpack runoff keeps soil and plants moist. Yet in early spring 2020, the West experienced a warm and dry climate, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/05/08/california-snowpack-fire-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Washington Post reported</a>.</p><p>"The magnitude we're seeing right now is pretty startling," Bryan Henry, a meteorologist with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, told The Washington Post last spring. By September, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires" target="_blank">wildfires</a> had burned more than five million acres in California, Oregon and Washington, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/24/climate/fires-worst-year-california-oregon-washington.html#:~:text=With%20more%20than%20a%20month,the%20largest%20fires%20ever%20recorded." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New York Times reported</a>.</p>
<p>Understanding the threats limited snowpack had on regions, researchers were also able to use their models to make global projections. Coastal regions, the Arctic, Central Europe and South America will experience rapid snowpack melts sooner than the northern interiors of North America and Eurasia, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-00996-w" target="_blank">the scientists wrote</a>.</p><p>While their findings offer a dire warning, they could also help climate leaders focus on areas where action is most needed.</p><p>"I was excited by the simplicity of the explanation that we ultimately arrived at," Climate Scientist Ian Eisenman told Scripps Oceanography. "Our theoretical model provides a mechanism to explain why the observed snowmelt dates change so much more at some locations than at others, and it also predicts how snowmelt dates will change in the future under further warming."</p>
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The August Complex Fire in California has now burned more than 1 million acres. Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA / CC BY 2.0
The August Complex Fire in California has now burned more than 1 million acres, making the fire the state's first gigafire. For context, that means the Northern California inferno has now burned an area larger than the entire state of Rhode Island, as Vox reported.
<p>An <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/august-complex-includes-doe-fire/" target="_blank">update</a> on the fire posted Tuesday night by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said the August Complex Fire has burned for 51 days, touched seven counties, and is 60 percent contained. It has consumed 1,008,590 acres.</p><p>The announcement that California now has the first gigafire on record came on the heels of the state announcing that this year's <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires">fires</a> have set new records by burning more than 4 million acres so far, more than double the previous record, as <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/california-wildfires-2020-2648098058.html" target="_self">EcoWatch</a> reported on Monday.</p>
<p>So far, five of the six largest fires in the state have occurred this year, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/06/california-wildfires-gigafire-first" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>. The August Complex Fire has burned through more than double the amount of land as the state's previous record holder, the Mendocino Complex Fire, which ravaged Northern California in 2018, as <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/california-has-its-first-gigafire-in-modern-history-1845275126" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a> reported.</p><p>The August Complex Fire started when a series of dramatic lightning strikes caused several small fires that were increased by strong winds. The small fires joined together to form the gigafire that is still burning today, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/06/us/gigafire-california-august-complex-trnd/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p><p>It was one of several fires that intensified from a series of bad luck as lightning strikes were followed by intense heat waves and high winds that ushered in dry winds. That combination allowed some fires to double overnight, as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/10/05/california-fires-4-million-acres/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a> reported.</p>
<p>"We predicted last year that we were living with the chance of such an extreme event under our current climate," said Jennifer Balch, a fire ecologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, on <a href="https://twitter.com/DrBalch/status/1313294938063335425" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, as The Guardian reported. "Don't need a crystal ball."</p><p>California's first gigafire is actually not the first one the world has seen this year. In January, Australia's saw a gigafire when lightning strikes caused a series of fires that, like the August Complex Fire, morphed into one in on the border of Victoria and New South Wales, as The Washington Post reported. That fire covered nearly 1.5 million acres.</p><p>Historically, the U.S. has seen several gigafires, too. The most recent was the Taylor Complex Fire in Alaska in 2004, which covered roughly 1.3 million acres. In 1988, the Yellowstone Fire in Montana and Idaho burned over 1.5 million acres, as CNN reported.</p>
<p>Experts say the increased frequency and intensity of the fires will be the new normal in the West as the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a> intensifies. According to an analysis by <a href="https://www.climatecentral.org/news/western-wildfires-climate-change-20475" target="_blank">Climate Central</a>, the increased heat coupled with prolonged <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought">drought</a> have made today's wildfire seasons three months longer than it was in the 70s and wildfires are three times more common, as The Guardian reported.</p><p>A CNN meteorologist said that California's wildfires are eight times larger than they were in the 70s and the amount of land burned every year has increased by 500 percent.</p><p>The good news for Northern California in the immediate future is that temperatures are supposed to drop 15 degrees Fahrenheit at the end of the week and rain will move in to help the firefighting efforts, as The Guardian reported. However, it will not be enough rain to put an end to the 2020 fire season.</p>
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A firefighter douses flames as they push toward homes during the Creek Fire in the Cascadel Woods area of unincorporated Madera County, California on Sept. 7, 2020. Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
What does the climate crisis look like? As wildfires continue to rage up and down the U.S. West Coast, we have some terrifying answers: orange skies; burnt-out buildings; a horse, seemingly abandoned, running past a stall as the hill above erupts in flames. These images help to ground an unfathomable reality.
<p><br/></p>
<p class=""><em>Note: This article has been updated to clarify that orange skies are being seen in areas of Northern California including Oroville and San Francisco.</em></p>
<p>More than 100 major fires in California, Oregon and Washington have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes during a pandemic, destroyed entire towns and claimed at least 23 lives, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/10/wildfires-california-oregon-washington-among-burning-states-7-dead/5767493002/" target="_blank">USA Today reported Friday</a>. The flames have charred more than three million acres in California alone, a record for the state, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/10/us/fires-oregon-california-wa-state.html?name=styln-california-wildfires&region=TOP_BANNER&block=storyline_menu_recirc&action=click&pgtype=Article&impression_id=8b316630-f421-11ea-bbf9-6daf9f25f611&variant=1_Show%23link-679758af" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>.</p><p>While the individual fires have different causes, including a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/california-wildfire-gender-reveal-partyty-2647518193.html" target="_self">gender-reveal party</a>, scientists agree that changes in the climate make larger fires like the ones burning now more likely. This is because warmer temperatures mean more extreme heat waves and drier air and vegetation, creating ideal conditions for fires to spread, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-wildfires-snow-jet-stream-extreme-weather/" target="_blank">as CBS News explained</a>. While climate change can feel abstract and distant as a prediction, these seven photos of the West Coast fires make it devastatingly real.</p>
Orange Skies
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3Mjc5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTM5OTc2NH0.loFijHZV5bLC6hKOJ_T0avHsIGIwkO86UcuqQ6yySZU/img.jpg?width=980" id="01daa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8c43082a48f1c103935ac648e6dfa31b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear Fire in Oroville, California on Sept. 9, 2020. Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
<p>People in Northern California looked out their windows Wednesday to a scene out of a <a href="https://twitter.com/Bunny_Godfather/status/1303909838376722432?ref_src=twsrc%255Etfw%257Ctwcamp%255Etweetembed%257Ctwterm%255E1303909838376722432%257Ctwgr%255Eshare_3&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.newsweek.com%252Fbay-area-orange-skies-blade-runner-2049-1530961" target="_blank">science-fiction movie</a> as the sky glowed orange. Clouds of smoke covering the state filtered the sun's light and energy, tinting skies and lowering temperatures, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/pictures-dull-orange-sky-wildfires-rage-western-200910140117147.html" target="_blank">Al Jazeera reported</a>. In San Francisco, the unusual color was a combination of ash from the Bear Fire mixed with the marine layer that provides the city's famous fog, <a href="https://abc7news.com/smoke-in-the-air-today-why-is-sky-orange-quality-index-oakland-bay-area/6414147/" target="_blank">ABC 7 News explained</a>. The effect was so remarkable that Hillary Clinton shared the image above, taken in Oroville, on her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9XN59p0L7/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. "None of this is normal, and confronting climate change is on the ballot this year. Vote, as early as you can, for a habitable planet," she wrote.</p>Creek Fire Destruction
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3NDQ1OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDI0MzIyM30.wL48hRI2OB72D0P_-4HoVfNYK01iIMcxOuDn6ELNIrw/img.jpg?width=980" id="ff2e3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="33d8df94a86c9c1037d1075358ff1b6b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />A community of forest homes lies in ruins along Auberry Road in the Meadow Lakes area after the Creek Fire swept through on Sept. 8, 2020 near Shaver Lake, California. David McNew / Getty Images
<p>The Creek Fire started on Friday, Sept. 4, just as large swaths of California were facing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/california-heat-wave-wildfires-2647443443.html" target="_self">record-breaking heat for Labor Day weekend</a>. The fire spread quickly through the western edge of the Sierra National Forest. Hundreds of people were airlifted away from the fast-spreading fire earlier in the week, according to <a href="https://abc7.com/creek-fire-214-people-airlifted-from-mammoth-pool-reservoir-in-daring-rescue/6411589/" target="_blank">KABC</a> in Los Angeles. So far, the fire has burned through 175,893 acres and was only 6 percent contained Thursday, according to the <a href="https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/fires/article245647305.html" target="_blank">Fresno Bee</a>. <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/9/4/creek-fire/" target="_blank">Cal Fire's statistics</a> say the fire, which has ripped through the remote mountain town of Big Creek, has destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings. "My family has been part of this community since 1929 and knowing it's probably never going to be the same is just gut-wrenching," said Toby Walt, the superintendent of Big Creek School District, to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/us/california-family-wildfire-home-escape/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.</p>Mass Evacuations in Washington
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3MzE0Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzkzNTQ2N30.00ruy9U0-r1ZGhxKoolxUnjANilP5HBuyHnQ6F9CU-E/img.jpg?width=980" id="0395e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6bc6a225c344d37cc052d492ebdf6571" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />Tinted orange by wildfire smoke from Oregon and southern Washington, the sun sets behind a hill on Sept. 9, 2020 in Kalama, Washington. David Ryder / Getty Images
<p>As of Wednesday, wildfires had scorched 587,000 acres of Washington state, nearly half the area of land that burned during the entire record-setting fire season of 2015, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/wildfire-updates-september-10-what-to-know-today-about-the-destructive-fires-in-washington-state-and-on-the-west-coast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Seattle Times reported</a>. The fires prompted Washington Governor Jay Inslee to sign an emergency declaration Wednesday, and to promise cash assistance for people who have lost their homes to the flames. Hundreds of families have had to evacuate, including residents of Tacoma suburb Bonney Lake. One of them was Christian Deoliveira, who fled his home with his fiancé and five-year-old son early Tuesday morning. "I woke up at about 3 a.m. to a neighbor knocking on the door, saying the whole hillside's on fire," Deoliveira told <a href="https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article245572380.html" target="_blank">The News Tribune</a>.</p>Animals Affected by Wildfires
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3MzU5NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTUxMTgwOX0.8NceC4kmCJuDzYdE6sbCKFa2vAcLQvQNdDJfDUl8FAk/img.jpg?width=980" id="adfad" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e2452f6e5e5ed4a0c4bf276335c7fd3e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />A horse runs by a stall as flames from the Hennessey fire approach a property in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on Aug. 18, 2020. Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
<p>Wild animals in the West are accustomed to wildfires as a natural part of the ecosystem. Some even need the burnt-out areas for their breeding grounds, while other predators will lie in wait for prey fleeing the fire. But the size and intensity of the current fires is beyond what most animals have adapted to. While scientists do not have a count of how many animals die in wildfires, they do know that smoke, fire and heat are extremely dangerous for animals that can't escape fast enough, particularly young and small animals, according to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/09/150914-animals-wildlife-wildfires-nation-california-science/#close" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>. It's not just wild animals that suffer. Domestic pets are also left behind to fend for themselves as fire approaches and pet owners need to evacuate. Animal rescue crews are scrambling to find cats and dogs that were left behind. After finding one dog, Farshad Azad of the North Valley Animal Disaster Group told the <a href="https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2020/09/10/california-wildfires-conditions-improve-for-firefighters-but-siege-continues/" target="_blank">Vallejo Times-Herald</a>, "Everything around him was incinerated." He added, "People are really afraid. And people are hurting because their animals are missing."</p>The Human Toll
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3MzczMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMjU0NDAyNn0.zlna_AJwNcN5lABL8rtMthgcT12n4_4nv_SwZ56AwRk/img.jpg?width=980" id="82961" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8bb1df61a935c816093b6efb2110d306" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />Resident Austin Giannuzzi cries while embracing family members at the burnt remains of their home during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville, California on Aug. 23, 2020. Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
<p>The fires have claimed at least 23 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes in all three states. One of the hardest hit areas has been California's Butte County, which was also the site of 2018's Camp Fire, the fire that scorched the town of Paradise and was the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/camp-fire-california-wildfire-deaths-2620067114.html" target="_self">deadliest and most destructive in the state's history</a>. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Thursday at least 10 people in his county had died in the North Complex fires, while dozens were missing and hundreds of homes were feared lost, according to USA Today. The blaze even menaced Paradise again, though <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/11/9-a-m-update-fire-crews-continue-bear-fire-battle/" target="_blank">The Mercury News</a> reported evacuation orders for part of the town had been lifted. But Paradise's experience was repeated in the Butte County community of Berry Creek, which was obliterated by a part of the North Complex Fire Tuesday night. "The school is gone, the fire department's gone, the bar's gone, the laundromat's gone, the general store's gone," 50-year-resident John Sykes, who watched the blaze from a mile away, told <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article245611590.html" target="_blank">The Sacramento Bee</a>. "I'll never go back. I don't want to see it. That's why I'm leaving. I never want to see California again."</p>Communities Threatened and Destroyed in Oregon
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3Mzg4MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDk0ODc2OH0.hech4k958pQJXxCUupOLssjn9IzJcLkgbMzlH7rlCGA/img.jpg?width=980" id="90499" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e39326a344d708fda44864f6a4d17a2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />A sprinkler wets the exterior of a home as wildfires approach nearby in Clackamas County on Sept. 9, 2020 in Oregon City, Oregon. David Ryder / Getty Images
<p>High winds have fueled the rapid spread of the wildfires in Oregon, which are threatening the Western part of the state at an unprecedented rate. More than a half-million people have fled from the fires, which makes up more than 10 percent of the state's population of 4.2 million, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54113416" target="_blank">BBC</a>. As of Thursday, there were 37 different blazes in the state, affecting people along the Interstate 5 corridor from Ashland in the south to Portland in the north. That includes Salem and Eugene. The blazes, which are only 1 percent contained, have decimated the towns of Phoenix and Talent, destroying hundreds of homes. "We have never seen this amount of uncontained fire across the state," said Governor Kate Brown, as the BBC reported. "This will not be a one-time event. Unfortunately, it is the bellwether of the future. We're feeling the acute impacts of climate change."</p>Wildfires During a Pandemic
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk3NDA0My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjI0MzA0OH0.kAZxX16X3_YVrcpdl5T-dSYUEaPovpK2l-R2-EmhtT8/img.jpg?width=980" id="53edf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5a47def2d11a34a4f305408fcd0f6f00" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="675" />A sign warning people about COVID-19 is surrounded by flames during the Hennessey Fire near Lake Berryessa in Napa, California on Aug. 18, 2020. Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
<p>The intense fires in the midst of a pandemic that requires social distancing is complicating evacuation strategies. Usually, people fleeing fires will huddle together in school gymnasiums. The COVID-19 pandemic has made that a no-no. The same restrictions apply to firefighters who would usually bunk together in small spaces, according to <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-happens-wildfire-coronavirus-pandemic_n_5f3d6b90c5b609f4f673c34c?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW90aGVyam9uZXMuY29tL2Vudmlyb25tZW50LzIwMjAvMDgvd2hhdC1oYXBwZW5zLXdoZW4tYS13aWxkZmlyZS1tZWV0cy1hLXBhbmRlbWljLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANojonNDvEAcRnmhHQ_z_PTE54ALNvD_SBsIQgQff-H-nYonNfU6J5v8YXtuuVJKfuKxVIJauaGs0cc8lkSGIRnvDag0ya1gRxxKjmtfTicljJ3rOyvhs2RfGfK6RUTubneJ6wfnUQfyQdtH5YzY_qoEWYRvvrntI3C9DGrqPIfX" target="_blank">HuffPost.</a> Complicating matters further is that the poor air quality from the smoke may affect recovery from COVID-19. "We know that wildfire exposure to communities increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infection," such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia, said Dr. John Balmes, a physician at the University of California, San Francisco, as HuffPost reported. "So there's concern in the context of the pandemic that wildfire smoke exposure would increase the risk of moving from mild to more severe COVID-19."</p>From Your Site Articles
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A satellite image shows smoke spreading from wildfires in the Western U.S. on Sept. 11, 2020. NOAA / NASA
The smoke from the wildfires devastating the West Coast of the U.S. has reached as far away as Europe, officials said Wednesday.
<p>The EU's climate tracking body, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), said it had detected smoke from the fires over Northern Europe, 8,000 kilometers (approximately 4,970 miles) away from its origin, as an <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20200916-smoke-from-us-fires-reaches-europe-satellite-data-shows" target="_blank">AFP story published by France24 reported</a>.</p><p>"The fact that these fires are emitting so much pollution into the atmosphere that we can still see thick smoke over 8000 kilometres away reflects just how devastating they have been in their magnitude and duration," CAMS senior scientist Mark Parrington said in a <a href="https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/cams-monitors-smoke-release-us-wildfires" target="_blank">press release</a>.</p><p>CAMS said smoke from the fires first reached Europe last week and is expected to do so again at the end of this week.</p>
<div id="88627" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2513ec46adc7536e0d71ac93d5aa7a0a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1306128847017054208" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">🔥#Smoke from the unprecedented #USFires is moving back across #NorthAmerica from the #Pacific and is on its way to… https://t.co/rep440bkfN</div> — Copernicus ECMWF (@Copernicus ECMWF)<a href="https://twitter.com/CopernicusECMWF/statuses/1306128847017054208">1600240358.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Climate researcher Geert Jan van Oldenborgh <a href="https://twitter.com/gjvoldenborgh/status/1304478828476198912" target="_blank">tweeted Sept. 11</a> that the smoke had been observed in Holland.</p><p>"The smoke from the western US wildfires has even reached the Netherlands..., turning the sky [grey] instead of blue," he wrote.</p><p>In its report Wednesday, CAMS also gave an account of the scale of the fires themselves. It said fire activity was ten to hundreds times more intense this year than for the U.S. average from 2003 to 2019. Blazes in Oregon and California also emitted more carbon pollution this year than at any time since record-keeping began. So far, they have released more than 30 million tonnes (approximately 33 million U.S. tons) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since mid-August, AFP reported.</p><p>"The scale and magnitude of these fires are at a level much higher than in any of the 18 years that our monitoring data covers, since 2003," <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/16/weather/us-wildfires-smoke-europe-copernicus-intl/index.html" target="_blank">Parrington told CNN</a>.</p>
<p>The heaviest smoke from the fires was trapped over the Western U.S. for days, CAMS noted, choking Pacific cities with the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/west-coast-wildfires-air-pollution-2647637806.html" target="_self">worst air quality in the world</a>. But a change in the weather Monday began to move the smoke east along the jet stream, according to AFP. In the Eastern U.S., Boston, New York and Maine have all reported smoky, hazy conditions, the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-15/smoke-california-wildfires-reaches-east-coast-europe" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times reported</a>.</p><p>"Satellite images this morning show smoke aloft moving over much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic," the Baltimore-Washington office of the National Weather Service <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS_BaltWash/status/1305857530283913217" target="_blank">tweeted Tuesday</a>. "This smoke is obscuring the sun, and will keep temperatures a few degrees cooler today than what would be observed if the smoke was not present."</p><p>But just because some of the smoke is moving doesn't mean the West Coast can breathe easy. Portland, OR still had the worst air quality in the world Wednesday morning, <a href="https://www.iqair.com/us/world-air-quality-ranking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to rankings from IQAir</a>.</p>
<p>The fires themselves also continue to rage. There were 87 burning in 11 states as of Tuesday, CNN reported. So far, the fires have claimed 25 lives in California. In Oregon, as of Tuesday, 10 people had died and 22 were missing.</p><p>In California, fires have scorched more than 3.2 million acres, the most on record, burned at least 4,200 structures and displaced more than 60,000 people. Across the West, the flames have consumed nearly five million acres, an area roughly the size of New Jersey, AFP pointed out.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> makes larger, intense wildfires more likely because higher temperatures worsen the drought conditions that feed them.</p>
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NOAA GOES Image Viewer on Jan. 28, 2021
Exceptionally heavy rain caused debris flows and flash flooding that damaged as many as two dozen homes and buildings in California's Salinas Valley on Wednesday.
<p>In Paso Robles, unhoused people living in the Salinas Riverbed are especially in danger and local officials were working to alert them to the potential 20-25-foot rise in water levels. The heavy rains produced by an atmospheric river also caused flooding and knocked out power for thousands in the Bay Area and the threat of landslides and debris flows remains across the state after the state's record-smashing 2020 <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires">wildfire</a> season.</p><p>The landslides are an example of the compound disasters made more frequent as human caused <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change">climate change</a> makes wildfires more extreme and extreme precipitation more frequent.</p>
<p>As reported by <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/27/atmospheric-river-storm-batters-monterey-county-mudslide-near-river-fire-burn-scar/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_xldErs3ZBocSj4Xl1VWbQpliQOFDOuibIMv1aDYEqHxZnWud83TBWGdjI7MD5Sde3SP7o8OZGEU6uaTuYibLA1KLiZQ&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KPIX</a>:</p><blockquote>The heavy rain triggered a mudslide in the River Road area near the Salinas River and Highway 101 south of Salinas. KSBW reported an estimated 50 large animals that were stuck in mud that had to be rescued.<br></blockquote><blockquote>The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Monterey County confirmed Wednesday afternoon that it had taken in 41 animals for shelter due to people having to evacuate the area.</blockquote><blockquote>As of Wednesday afternoon, SPCA Monterey County had taken in nine dogs, 14 cats, 17 horses and a donkey for residents who did not have anywhere else to take the animals.</blockquote><blockquote>Anyone in the county who needs assistance with sheltering animals is asked to call the organization at (831) 373-2631 during day hours and (831) 264-5424 at night.</blockquote><blockquote>River Road has been closed by the California Highway Patrol from Chualar River Road north to Parker Canyon Road due to flooding and mud.</blockquote>
<div id="ac2d7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0a83cee4042a513ae0e8559660a0cb4c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1354496134950002688" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">MCRFD working with local property owners on damage assessment In the River Rd area. Thank you to all the local ranc… https://t.co/7PgkagcJsV</div> — Mont. Co. Regional Fire (@Mont. Co. Regional Fire)<a href="https://twitter.com/mcrfd/statuses/1354496134950002688">1611772018.0</a></blockquote></div>
<blockquote>The weather service said its tracking has the Big Sur coastline as the 'bullseye' for the storm front that has been intensified by the moisture from an atmospheric river.</blockquote><blockquote>"Our local in-house model is showing extensive storm totals in the Big Sur hills in excess of 20 inches with a bullseye amount in excess of 31 inches," the weather service said.</blockquote>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p>Mudslides: <a href="https://www.ksby.com/homepage-showcase/authorities-in-paso-robles-concerned-about-people-in-salinas-riverbed-as-waters-rise?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ix5NlloJfOkhxfoT36jCROfWetD-WvyFqKLBlu6WaK6a24MMKdVVstoDYxgpyO0ZVeJa-p5T25_tXL2d7OpAW6BqAPQ&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">King City Rustler</a>, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/River-Fire-mudslide-Salinas-atmospheric-river-15903126.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--NyDox3e6DVYka-dONev4rEjTJeSG4CDOFqbGKxm5w0uPI3z4OCTpmDXugKVV_qQv3O7t4idksy62LQU6nVA12XC2mmw&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SFGate</a>, <a href="https://weather.com/news/news/2021-01-27-california-debris-flow-flooding-snow-winter-storm?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz---xHi8TafuJUiYFcWikbAthu1mshT7zfxvCemI02DYZL_D9OyCnOfYopnZJaTk4FPKemyRonrQRgcdzxwV1Qw1XAK4tw&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Weather Channel</a>, <a href="https://kion546.com/news/2021/01/27/homes-and-outbuildings-damaged-by-mud-flows-in-monterey-county/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ZimM5Ym8rRDrpq4ahR8TxOX9PFQTfJ-4G4F5rkhzfiK0rECGsYNji632mRJl6ThBkB7z3L1ZerPqooCQ5zHzl3Xkz3Q&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KION</a>, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-mudslides-trap-residents-damage-homes/story?id=75520975&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_o1X6ng8WSaRpXboCSBYRDOpEL6WePWtrinEF9fSxzvCY-_S4OwrTQCywoRCFu2LMYlhXkOoawnrFhCSkS5qUcijLEkw&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ABC</a>, <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/01/27/atmospheric-river-storm-batters-monterey-county-mudslide-near-river-fire-burn-scar/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_xldErs3ZBocSj4Xl1VWbQpliQOFDOuibIMv1aDYEqHxZnWud83TBWGdjI7MD5Sde3SP7o8OZGEU6uaTuYibLA1KLiZQ&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KPIX</a>, <a href="https://www.ksbw.com/article/animals-being-rescued-people-trapped-in-their-homes-from-mudslide-near-river-fire-burn-scar/35337056?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8c3CuNa3acYAY1vjZTLIRj1JRkluYwLc3ndqgCsrnciJB6Ut-yF9oE-strxYbG3nn6W_fiB5oPUSUWGLqY2hnJLDOn5g&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KSBW</a>, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-27/winter-storm-threatens-mudslides-in-southern-california-closes-highways?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--q3FVTNgKCEimLb1cfQufiJ0wgij_VX99pWmVyynIp4-NvP_6vh1QBRFS9O71aNTyMseq8toy3YqnQFKaCOzACZlA8_Q&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-san-francisco-san-mateo-storms-evacuations-598e580f5167ecf26b0dac627296c457" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP</a>, Unhoused people: <a href="https://www.ksby.com/homepage-showcase/authorities-in-paso-robles-concerned-about-people-in-salinas-riverbed-as-waters-rise?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9b7EQl7Zh9-tAeDYJ_MlQ6uUJXHnfmLaShrQii_In8RzUuzc0x9lRUt_HiN9h8pN56YaFDAVhagTKl4tcmWwOzGxdqVQ&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KSBY</a>; Outages: <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-Weather-Live-Updates-15899456.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yIupPo28H570KorI7-aT1CkqqINY0S6YOKHgVIwb0sqWi5LsRgMl6SDYzHw21epZzx9UtebILhZQMjYPRK8XJDI7Gjg&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, Atmospheric river: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/01/27/california-winter-storm-flooding-blizzard/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8o77w99xnJru-9tFa__E340VkQ8UyJ8Au-5OK5y_Nwrwi_VoPtx-JacEgJhhA_pexRruYD5SaH45ABCjhmJry8JKxV_w&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-san-francisco-floods-storms-blizzards-cac68c84cc1586a50b6b1c76cf843c62?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9r3rix4-v8f4mf_Yg572P5bEl-_Nj2TV0CLWQ-FgtXmBswZKBZnAE5iUh13D-kBpgS5LHPpBgs_GrLVV5lya_gB_LmvQ&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">AP</a>; Climate Signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/events/western-wildfire-season-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-914njc6bkanRXzBlVYDxZWypgUnI8zAmq-ct-nIiyIPF81R4V58c95fC7FQxvgHc36YeDaNuFDBsDL8uzHh1wBt8JNpQ&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">2020 Western wildfire season</a>, <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-signals/extreme-precipitation-increase?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8dsVwcUFvE5zLo3eSa2Se-jH7QWscm5uvhz4DkT0M-6rDcyUCUTmkCiORLdw3xxyDylgwbhBWBo-MELl7fRgqRYLAtGA&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Extreme precipitation</a>, <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-signals/runoff-and-flood-risk-increase?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=108492583&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9C0TvpmSczWlIzrLWnWy2-wIEehhCu6vY_hYy92vEJABh456kQAVhlsshMVToyklTVvSAzGFioFSsAJwoPeGt0PDJJXw&utm_content=108492583&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Runoff and flood risk</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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A person surveys the aftermath of Hurricane Sally on September 16, 2020 in Pensacola, Florida. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
A record-smashing 22 weather disasters inflicted at least $1billion of damage on the U.S. in 2020, according to NOAA, as the toll of human-caused climate change mounts in real time.
<p>The 22 disasters blew away the previous record of 16, killed 262 people, and inflicted $95 billion in damages in 2020, which European scientists say is tied for the hottest year on record. </p><p>Climate change, caused by burning fossil fuels, makes wildfires more extreme, hurricanes more intense and intensify more quickly, and extreme rainfall more severe as warmer air holds more moisture that can then be dumped in overwhelming volumes. </p><p>The fact that more people are living in areas vulnerable to climate disasters also contributed to the record number of billion-dollar events. </p><p>Weather disasters ravaged areas across the Lower 48 states, as wildfires incinerated more than 10 million acres across the West, thunderstorms deluged the Midwest, and hurricanes repeatedly pummeled the Gulf Coast.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p>Disasters: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/weather/billion-dollar-us-disasters-2020-noaa-climate/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_A4TmzPUgpDqIKMplTCNLSwock-VCo-EPMaIbT_2DdRccDmE0dsdItNYj891S_ChzIXmXX3q3ETFhKNTPnfCEgj3x_1PQNf01vrukBayfsqg3iNms&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://login.politicopro.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriber.politicopro.com%2Farticle%2F2021%2F01%2Fnoaa-us-suffered-record-number-of-major-climate-events-in-2020-3986236%3Futm_campaign%3DHot%2520News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--m05mgaWGPUKgHewpx0Ajo-k6nYKCKnsNl4MnG72265YaYr6tCvXQuDAYgcL3vQ1fnbz5cAoJ6L7bErBxMltu3WU3JUjZmIwUR0Yqt1nu3CxGzIww&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Politico Pro</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/08/us-2020-record-year-climate-disasters-wildfires-hurricanes?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8xO35cec3_ODvPHfl2EgTUOVcEoCMK1rMmRFSz8LE_voP495aCb4dg5WLWDHLukxc3isJUaQ4IXiLiNabdx-x7KrIbliXt6a9naBW9p7vlNn1ZTQc&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2021/01/08/stories/1063722053?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-83bBOqfg7rBbqfKzN_ej6CBsayOSgHP7eu8tzPMPdNTMf52ESTORJtdvvY6aSwSDb9LvMJ1a74zTYOKPe7WQt1orKyddOhntMlg3gYkwiZYohw8to&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">E&E</a>, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/533366-record-broken-for-number-of-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Pij0koL7NKE9S-Q0YtmrGaMWWK9A0262uUYB4BnC6jBf2g6Nu1Tlt79YotsaUVdxNVfMID1AsqAM4xzZ35aHRACA5vnUEJqpp6eBgCSoqKMBKbaQ&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Hill,</a> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-08/record-number-of-1-billion-disasters-hit-the-u-s-in-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9df6oxhYBC4kjFPOSLGonKU4vnJcsJ5X5eDNtBtJvqZ_kwipx8JpEYmqZWZvsfQB1_64g1jaBM6Lr06AlVAOskIrjHAH5usy7ztfB0hQndLjTalpI&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>; Hottest year:<a href="https://www.axios.com/warmest-year-record-2020-51aa61c0-9f62-4ddb-b64e-d44e6777be5c.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8hRvLZbl_7X9hdSXyjoUFcxeJuReLLX0Bj7xbRQ0uHDyMaibRazBTU-BVgtspiUPMOeu0MgcmqAByb58vnT_9R0B8w_IJfpBhHSLKyuuBdC3NtmRo&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank"> Axios</a>, <a href="https://news.trust.org/item/20210108060129-7uwpt/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--wjansxEAz2OBIdnFGXTI1DmKhEWKJzkSRsqfWAbQc4i0EwDcDlhDTgHbOpLEZ_MkisjbwZiuA8Jj91wcjZVjSjM5gXENaiG30BGG3hhW8HReivdM&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Thomson Reuters Foundation</a>, <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/last-year-was-the-hottest-in-human-history-despite-rec-1846017595?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--O9CqUkoFI1DHdIAc9Y9O7wgul_Q6gfGp69h94xMFVldxWqT8bVEan4AI0jdogjYo3PwhMAjNZJfm1iOXIJa4eC_7qicWpdp9fIErNTclaeAmi0H0&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Earther;</a> Both: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/weather/2020-global-temperatures-tied-for-warmest-on-record-copernicus/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9aynu5m4jNRnMvpLeMwx3olDFke1xueE1Y_k96HUVuLBcpzoR-w3su-9FmTl_ymqID3Iid0V_1Y1NXvB2vgIfuDFFW_vJR-2IivyRzsQt7WkVVUPU&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/01/08/billion-dollar-disasters-2020/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--7ijhudKawfR3XePBWgTpnn6QKgxP8vdvKZTfrRb2WPQH9YvbUtVfzjUj8j-An2RJcvApzX9NfRpg0fZFCbpECwnLCN5hM2GiGGmXlV7wQOtN5TjA&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Washington Post,</a> <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/2020-record-billion-dollar-disasters?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--_D4VKuGs1zsO2qjqLoaCRxYs9f6kVUg6XVXcWFe6vIfnPUKv97-YyC0X3fNorfO9JE9wCO3dVKWIBlKo5PUEi14c7wXnquqqL2cjstjKrErvjTmg&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a>; Climate Signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/events/western-wildfire-season-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--2-NVzH8yc4w0USXB76ynLvedWBnQZe5A9XB86lGTGrLjAm4AClZEuXJWg2OP6QG_Ch__p6VJXBkZaa6FaQHwgCkjtuu1ErfwiOur5cSpWCATzJC8&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">2020 Western wildfire season</a>, <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/events/atlantic-hurricane-season-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8DqsWmT1ph9tcZasZx9eWdqBbXcH5R4sBsVISpCI-a6iq16DNgwwIUaL5rm390q6tMaFk5pzRwplW4ZXzp2CtnThPqu40WpmbD8q1bwF4isH96Qe8&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">2020 Atlantic hurricane season</a>, <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-signals/extreme-precipitation-increase?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=106075641&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--L3FwTuciPEFVY54XXPHML_zeXJmLv6yN6hO4f6efdSqEBJXQKoy33P2cijxT2dwlE207TkYoFkwb5xPfmkV7Rm6ibQgmnwstbqnWUI1IhQLgo2xs&utm_content=106075641&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Extreme precipitation</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, sign up for daily </em><a href="https://www.linktrack.live/hot-news-sign-up" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>, and visit their news site, </em><a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nexus Media News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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‘Unprecedented’ Wildfires Scorch Oregon and Washington, Force Thousands to Flee
09 September 2020
Climate
Fires seen in Oregon, southern Washington and northern California on Sept. 8, 2020 from NOAA's GOES17 satellite. NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs
Wildfires raged through Oregon and Washington Monday and Tuesday, prompting evacuations, blanketing Seattle in unhealthy levels of smoke and destroying nearly all of a small Washington farming town.
<p>The town of Malden in eastern Washington lost 80 percent of its structures including its fire station, post office, City Hall and library after a fast-moving blaze roared through on Monday, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/08/910578980/fast-moving-wildfire-destroys-80-of-small-town-in-eastern-washington-state" target="_blank">NPR reported</a>.</p><p>"The scale of this disaster really can't be expressed in words," Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said in a statement reported by NPR. "The fire will be extinguished, but a community has been changed for a lifetime. I just hope we don't find the fire took more than homes and buildings. I pray everyone got out in time."</p>
<div id="eb7c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ae931e909bb8a1bf23292ed5dcad8195"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1303122145682141186" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Per @PalouseNews these photos show the near total destruction of Malden, Wa. hit by an unbelievably fast wildfire j… https://t.co/1hQQAVp6ML</div> — Zanders (@Zanders)<a href="https://twitter.com/ZachAndersTV/statuses/1303122145682141186">1599523505.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>As of early Tuesday, there were no reports of injuries from the fire.</p><p>In the rest of Washington state, fires consumed more than 330,000 acres in a 24-hour period, fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/3-fires-roar-through-southeast-washington-communities-whitman-county-n1239506" target="_blank">NBC News reported</a>.</p><p>"More acres burned yesterday than in 12 of the last entire fire seasons in the state of Washington," Washington Gov. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/jay-inslee" target="_self">Jay Inslee</a> said in a Tuesday press conference, as NBC News reported.</p>
<div id="5e43b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="def4356f55ec11de94f0b5249aa8dccd"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1303459243853451264" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Yesterday, 330,000 acres burned in WA.
That’s more than 12 of the last 18 entire fire seasons.
In a single day. https://t.co/Op7UEfhTNA</div> — Governor Jay Inslee (@Governor Jay Inslee)<a href="https://twitter.com/GovInslee/statuses/1303459243853451264">1599603875.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The two largest fires burning in the state are the 174,000-acre Pearl Hill Fire, in Douglas County, and the 163,000-acre Cold Springs Fire near Omak. Neither was contained at all as of Tuesday's press conference. The Babbs-Malden Fire, the blaze that destroyed Malden, had spread to 8,943 acres and was also not contained.</p><p>West of the cascades, a fire burned through Graham, Washington Monday, destroying six homes and forcing around 100 people to evacuate, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/wildfire-smoke-blows-into-western-washington-worsening-air-quality/" target="_blank">The Seattle Times reported</a>.</p><p>"You didn't have time to pack clothes, it was like, get out, now," 55-year-old construction worker Tim VanBrocklin told The Seattle Times. "It was pretty nasty here, embers flying around our faces."</p>
<div id="c6a68" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="996d32f98c9893dba692f97a7f9f5aae"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1303332379956666369" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">A drone shot capturing the destruction and devastation after a brush fire exploded overnight in #Graham. Firefighte… https://t.co/h043ssF4HM</div> — Graham Fire & Rescue (@Graham Fire & Rescue)<a href="https://twitter.com/GrahamFireWa/statuses/1303332379956666369">1599573628.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The wind that drove the fires also carried their smoke into the Seattle area Monday night and Tuesday morning.</p><p>"It was so smoky you couldn't see across the water, you couldn't see the ferry boats coming across until the last few moments," Andy Lipscomb, who works in Seattle, told <a href="https://komonews.com/news/local/air-quality-levels-plummet-as-thick-smoke-blankets-puget-sound" target="_blank">KOMO News Tuesday</a>.</p><p>Puget Sound Clean Air Agency scientists predict that air quality in the area will remain at "unhealthy" or "unhealthy for sensitive groups" levels through Wednesday and possibly into Thursday as easterly winds continue to blow.</p>
<div id="bb68b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0d5c920dff0e66d7abe9f472c43d736f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1303143592794320896" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Smoke arrives. #wawx A short animation of satellite images late this afternoon (as downloaded from the excellent C… https://t.co/znJnvM1pdE</div> — NWS Seattle (@NWS Seattle)<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSeattle/statuses/1303143592794320896">1599528618.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In neighboring Oregon, wildfires have prompted thousands to flee their homes, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/oregon-governor-issues-emergency-declaration-wildfires/story?id=72895505" target="_blank">ABC News reported</a>.</p><p>One of those people was Jody Evans of Detroit, Oregon.</p><p>"Fire on both sides, winds blowing, ash flying — it was like driving through hell," Evans told <a href="https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2020/09/08/beachie-creek-fire-estimated-at-130000-acres-evacuees-flee-to-c-o-amid-devastation/?_ga=2.245032962.682114553.1599652708-1090369682.1597321798" target="_blank">NewsChannel 21</a>. "Did you lose everything, or is the only thing you saved yourself?"</p><p>There were 35 active fires burning more than 367,279 acres in the state, ABC News reported early Wednesday morning. The fires prompted Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to issue an emergency conflagration declaration. This frees up state resources to battle blazes too big for local crews to handle on their own, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/09/wildfire-map-evacuations-california-oregon-washington/5755838002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USA TODAY explained</a>.</p><p>"This is proving to be an unprecedented and significant fire event for our state, and frankly for the entire West Coast," Brown said, as USA TODAY reported.</p>
<div id="ddd6e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2ad36d2366f7c73d572ade8c42137bb0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1303464756527931392" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Listen up: We're in an unprecedented fire event. Several significant, growing fires across the state continue to sp… https://t.co/TVaCf3n7lQ</div> — Governor Kate Brown (@Governor Kate Brown)<a href="https://twitter.com/OregonGovBrown/statuses/1303464756527931392">1599605189.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> has increased fire risk in the Pacific Northwest.</p><p>"We can't attribute single fire events to climate change. But the trends in large fire events that have been occurring in the region are consistent with expected trends in a warming climate," University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences assistant professor Brian Harvey said in <a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/04/01/study-synthesizes-what-climate-change-means-for-northwest-wildfires/" target="_blank">April</a>.</p><p>Fires are encouraged by wetter winters that swell vegetation growth and drier summers that dry it out, creating more fuel, Washington state climatologist Nick Bond told The Seattle Times. This weather pattern is expected to increase as the climate warms.</p><p>Inslee, who ran for president with a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/jay-inslee-presidential-campaign-climate-2639951393.html" target="_self">campaign centered on climate action</a>, acknowledged these changes.</p><p>"This is an unprecedented and heartbreaking event … We're living in a new world. This is not the old Washington," Inslee said Tuesday, as The Seattle Times reported. "A fire that you might've seen that was going to be OK over time isn't OK anymore because the conditions are so dry, they're so hot, they're so windy — because the climate has changed."</p>
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