One of the obvious factors behind U.S. wildfires is global warming. Another factor may be even more important and is competently discussed in the article below.
"Chronic Lack of Fire": The Paradox Fueling Megafires in The U.S.
by Susan J. Pritchard
August 3, 2021
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-chronic- ... tists-warn
or
https://theconversation.com/how-years-o ... day-163165 (same article)
(The Conversation) After so many smoke-filled summers and record-setting burns, residents of Western North America are no strangers to wildfires. Still, many questions are circulating about why forest fires are becoming larger and more severe – and what can be done about it.
Is climate change fueling these fires? Does the long history of fighting every fire play a role? Should we leave more fires to burn? What can be done about Western forests’ vulnerability to wildfires and climate change?
We invited 40 fire and forest ecologists living across the Western U.S. and Canada to examine the latest research and answer these questions in a set of studies published Aug. 2, 2021. Collectively, we are deeply concerned about the future of Western forests and communities under climate change.
So, why are wildfires getting worse?
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Ironically, a chronic lack of fire in Western landscapes also contributes to increased fire severity and vulnerability to wildfires. It allows dry brush and live and dead trees to build up, and with more people living in wildland areas to spark blazes, pressure to fight every forest fire has increased the risk of extreme fire.
caltrek's comment: This is a very big problem. Partly, this is because of public opposition over the years to prescribed burning. People get upset about the smoke, the dangers of such fires getting out of control, etc.
Then, when the really big fires that transform the ecology (usually for the worse) occur, such voices are nowhere to be heard, or are complaining that fire fighting agencies failed to do the impossible. Yet another example of how public ignorance of science can have some very negative consequences.
Don't mourn, organize.
-Joe Hill