A Hot Topic: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions to the Wildfire Issue in the Western United States

Abstract

This past year, 2020, was the most active on record for wildfires in the West Coast of the United States. It broke (or came close to breaking) records in terms of land burned, fires reported, damage caused, and lives lost . The economic consequences of these high severity fires were felt by hundreds of thousands, the health consequences of the toxin-laden smoke by millions more. And 2020 was not a one off. Instead, it was the most recent high point in a decades’ long trend of increasing wildfire size, severity, duration, and damage. A century of fire suppression, rising temperatures and longer fire seasons due to climate change, as well as continued growth along the urban/rural frontier have together increased the risk of more deadly infernos. It is now estimated that wildfire risk in 2040 will be four times greater than during the period of 1980 – 2006. However, with a shift from reactive to proactive approaches in dealing with such risk, a good deal of mitigation can be achieved. In addition to physically reducing risk where possible, this would involve raising public awareness further, increasing research into wildfire-related issues, and improving communication among stakeholders. With these and other efforts going forward, the West Coast can learn how to live with wildfires.