although California is familiar with wildfires the state has been riddled
wildfires the state has been riddled
wildfires the state has been riddled with unprecedented problems throughout
with unprecedented problems throughout
with unprecedented problems throughout 2015
2015
2015 welcome to watchmojo.com n’t we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com n’t we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com n’t we’re counting down ten crucial facts you
counting down ten crucial facts you
counting down ten crucial facts you should know about the California
should know about the California
should know about the California wildfires number 10 what are the
wildfires number 10 what are the
wildfires number 10 what are the California wildfires in September 2015
California wildfires in September 2015
California wildfires in September 2015 California and the western US in general
California and the western US in general
California and the western US in general were in the midst of an exceptionally
were in the midst of an exceptionally
were in the midst of an exceptionally hot and dry period the California
hot and dry period the California
hot and dry period the California wildfires were sparked as a direct
wildfires were sparked as a direct
wildfires were sparked as a direct result of these weather conditions and
result of these weather conditions and
result of these weather conditions and they raged from June to September 2015
they raged from June to September 2015
they raged from June to September 2015 and beyond September in fact saw some of
and beyond September in fact saw some of
and beyond September in fact saw some of the largest most destructive fires
the largest most destructive fires
the largest most destructive fires mainly the Butte fire which began on
mainly the Butte fire which began on
mainly the Butte fire which began on September 9th and the valley fire which
September 9th and the valley fire which
September 9th and the valley fire which began on the 12th Butte and Valley
began on the 12th Butte and Valley
began on the 12th Butte and Valley combined have scorched through close to
combined have scorched through close to
combined have scorched through close to 150 acres of land number nine how much
150 acres of land number nine how much
150 acres of land number nine how much damage have the wildfires caused since
damage have the wildfires caused since
damage have the wildfires caused since the area they effected was so huge the
the area they effected was so huge the
the area they effected was so huge the damage brought about by the Butte and
damage brought about by the Butte and
damage brought about by the Butte and Valley fires is largely unparalleled in
Valley fires is largely unparalleled in
Valley fires is largely unparalleled in modern state history as of mid September
modern state history as of mid September
modern state history as of mid September 2015 the valley disaster had destroyed
2015 the valley disaster had destroyed
2015 the valley disaster had destroyed close to 900 homes while Butte had
close to 900 homes while Butte had
close to 900 homes while Butte had burned over 530 residences to the ground
burned over 530 residences to the ground
burned over 530 residences to the ground over 20,000 people had been displaced
over 20,000 people had been displaced
over 20,000 people had been displaced and those figures were expected to rise
and those figures were expected to rise
and those figures were expected to rise the damage to farmland was also
the damage to farmland was also
the damage to farmland was also extensive and economically crippling for
extensive and economically crippling for
extensive and economically crippling for some families and businesses by
some families and businesses by
some families and businesses by mid-september California had also lost
mid-september California had also lost
mid-september California had also lost about 700,000 acres of previously
about 700,000 acres of previously
about 700,000 acres of previously farmable land because of drought and
farmable land because of drought and
farmable land because of drought and fire and over 8,000 jobs within the
fire and over 8,000 jobs within the
fire and over 8,000 jobs within the agriculture sector ik waiting to around
agriculture sector ik waiting to around
agriculture sector ik waiting to around 1.8 billion dollars number eight how
1.8 billion dollars number eight how
1.8 billion dollars number eight how many people are affected not only did
many people are affected not only did
many people are affected not only did the fires make tens of thousands of
the fires make tens of thousands of
the fires make tens of thousands of people homeless they also proved fatal
people homeless they also proved fatal
people homeless they also proved fatal as of mid September 2015
as of mid September 2015
as of mid September 2015 three people had been killed in the
three people had been killed in the
three people had been killed in the valley fire and a further two victims
valley fire and a further two victims
valley fire and a further two victims had been claimed
had been claimed
had been claimed in the Butte fire the 15,000
in the Butte fire the 15,000
in the Butte fire the 15,000 firefighters working to contain the
firefighters working to contain the
firefighters working to contain the blazes had achieved some success however
blazes had achieved some success however
blazes had achieved some success however with Valley 35% contained and Butte 49%
with Valley 35% contained and Butte 49%
with Valley 35% contained and Butte 49% as of the 18th of that same month the
as of the 18th of that same month the
as of the 18th of that same month the overriding aim was to stop the spread of
overriding aim was to stop the spread of
overriding aim was to stop the spread of the fires so that no one else would lose
the fires so that no one else would lose
the fires so that no one else would lose their property livelihoods or lives
their property livelihoods or lives
their property livelihoods or lives unfortunately a mixture of continually
unfortunately a mixture of continually
unfortunately a mixture of continually dry weather and fairly unpredictable
dry weather and fairly unpredictable
dry weather and fairly unpredictable wind patterns meant that the ongoing
wind patterns meant that the ongoing
wind patterns meant that the ongoing threat remained severe number seven
threat remained severe number seven
threat remained severe number seven which areas have been affected though
which areas have been affected though
which areas have been affected though California proved to be the most notably
California proved to be the most notably
California proved to be the most notably affected state the fire’s tore through
affected state the fire’s tore through
affected state the fire’s tore through huge sections of America’s West while
huge sections of America’s West while
huge sections of America’s West while even creeping over the border into
even creeping over the border into
even creeping over the border into Canada over eight million acres of land
Canada over eight million acres of land
Canada over eight million acres of land had been affected as of the beginning of
had been affected as of the beginning of
had been affected as of the beginning of September 2015 an area larger than the
September 2015 an area larger than the
September 2015 an area larger than the state of Maryland with around 60 fires
state of Maryland with around 60 fires
state of Maryland with around 60 fires raging at any one time
raging at any one time
raging at any one time California was joined by Oregon
California was joined by Oregon
California was joined by Oregon Washington Idaho Montana and even Alaska
Washington Idaho Montana and even Alaska
Washington Idaho Montana and even Alaska heading further north into Canada the
heading further north into Canada the
heading further north into Canada the southwestern provinces were also
southwestern provinces were also
southwestern provinces were also affected with large-scale fires burning
affected with large-scale fires burning
affected with large-scale fires burning in the provinces of Saskatchewan Alberta
in the provinces of Saskatchewan Alberta
in the provinces of Saskatchewan Alberta and British Columbia beginning in July
and British Columbia beginning in July
and British Columbia beginning in July of 2015 number 6 how will the wildfires
of 2015 number 6 how will the wildfires
of 2015 number 6 how will the wildfires affect the wine industry one of the more
affect the wine industry one of the more
affect the wine industry one of the more specific economic concerns relating to
specific economic concerns relating to
specific economic concerns relating to the wildfires in California surrounded
the wildfires in California surrounded
the wildfires in California surrounded the state’s wine industry California is
the state’s wine industry California is
the state’s wine industry California is responsible for 90% of the United States
responsible for 90% of the United States
responsible for 90% of the United States wine production and in 2014 it sold over
wine production and in 2014 it sold over
wine production and in 2014 it sold over 24 billion dollars in wine but some
24 billion dollars in wine but some
24 billion dollars in wine but some vineyards became inaccessible in 2015
vineyards became inaccessible in 2015
vineyards became inaccessible in 2015 because of evacuation orders and the
because of evacuation orders and the
because of evacuation orders and the damage was only set to increase should
damage was only set to increase should
damage was only set to increase should the actual fire spread onto specific
the actual fire spread onto specific
the actual fire spread onto specific vineyards the problem for wine producers
vineyards the problem for wine producers
vineyards the problem for wine producers concerned the duration of the evacuation
concerned the duration of the evacuation
concerned the duration of the evacuation as of mid September 2015
as of mid September 2015
as of mid September 2015 some companies still had up to 80% of
some companies still had up to 80% of
some companies still had up to 80% of their grapes on the vine and were
their grapes on the vine and were
their grapes on the vine and were desperate to gain access as quickly as
desperate to gain access as quickly as
desperate to gain access as quickly as possible in order to begin the harvest
possible in order to begin the harvest
possible in order to begin the harvest process if left too long the ripening
process if left too long the ripening
process if left too long the ripening schedule would be put out of sync smoke
schedule would be put out of sync smoke
schedule would be put out of sync smoke would likely damage the plants and huge
would likely damage the plants and huge
would likely damage the plants and huge amounts of grapes would be wasted
amounts of grapes would be wasted
amounts of grapes would be wasted number five how much have the wildfires
number five how much have the wildfires
number five how much have the wildfires cost the state of California
cost the state of California
cost the state of California California’s agriculture sector was
California’s agriculture sector was
California’s agriculture sector was expected to lose around 1.8 billion
expected to lose around 1.8 billion
expected to lose around 1.8 billion dollars in 2015 all told and that was
dollars in 2015 all told and that was
dollars in 2015 all told and that was according to conservative predictions
according to conservative predictions
according to conservative predictions some forecasts claimed that when taking
some forecasts claimed that when taking
some forecasts claimed that when taking into account more indirect losses as
into account more indirect losses as
into account more indirect losses as well that figure could rise by almost a
well that figure could rise by almost a
well that figure could rise by almost a billion to 2.7 billion as of mid August
billion to 2.7 billion as of mid August
billion to 2.7 billion as of mid August 2015 it had been estimated that close to
2015 it had been estimated that close to
2015 it had been estimated that close to 600 million dollars had already been
600 million dollars had already been
600 million dollars had already been spent pumping groundwater reserves
spent pumping groundwater reserves
spent pumping groundwater reserves around 900 million had been lost
around 900 million had been lost
around 900 million had been lost directly through crop waste and a
directly through crop waste and a
directly through crop waste and a further 350 million had been sized away
further 350 million had been sized away
further 350 million had been sized away from the dairy and livestock industries
from the dairy and livestock industries
from the dairy and livestock industries however agriculture is a large part of
however agriculture is a large part of
however agriculture is a large part of California’s economy and the state is
California’s economy and the state is
California’s economy and the state is expected to recover the loss represented
expected to recover the loss represented
expected to recover the loss represented just one tenth of one percent of
just one tenth of one percent of
just one tenth of one percent of California’s total annual economic
California’s total annual economic
California’s total annual economic output and around five percent of its
output and around five percent of its
output and around five percent of its approximately forty five billion dollar
approximately forty five billion dollar
approximately forty five billion dollar agricultural industry number four why
agricultural industry number four why
agricultural industry number four why has 2015 been extra damaging California
has 2015 been extra damaging California
has 2015 been extra damaging California and Western North America are not
and Western North America are not
and Western North America are not unaccustomed to wildfires in fact
unaccustomed to wildfires in fact
unaccustomed to wildfires in fact there’s an annual fire season for which
there’s an annual fire season for which
there’s an annual fire season for which state preparations are made however
state preparations are made however
state preparations are made however since records began only six other years
since records began only six other years
since records began only six other years have seen over 8 million acres of land
have seen over 8 million acres of land
have seen over 8 million acres of land burned nationwide and all of those years
burned nationwide and all of those years
burned nationwide and all of those years have fallen within the 21st century as
have fallen within the 21st century as
have fallen within the 21st century as of September the 2015 figures looked set
of September the 2015 figures looked set
of September the 2015 figures looked set to outstrip those for 2006 the worst
to outstrip those for 2006 the worst
to outstrip those for 2006 the worst year ever recorded with more than 9.8
year ever recorded with more than 9.8
year ever recorded with more than 9.8 million acres consumed commentators
million acres consumed commentators
million acres consumed commentators attributed 2015 severity to a dangerous
attributed 2015 severity to a dangerous
attributed 2015 severity to a dangerous combination of extremely dry land caused
combination of extremely dry land caused
combination of extremely dry land caused by unrelenting heat and extremely low
by unrelenting heat and extremely low
by unrelenting heat and extremely low water supplies California’s desert scrub
water supplies California’s desert scrub
water supplies California’s desert scrub was set to be as quote dry as kindling
was set to be as quote dry as kindling
was set to be as quote dry as kindling making fires easy to light and spread
making fires easy to light and spread
making fires easy to light and spread while the state reservoirs were said to
while the state reservoirs were said to
while the state reservoirs were said to be holding less than half of their
be holding less than half of their
be holding less than half of their typical volume of water number three how
typical volume of water number three how
typical volume of water number three how bad has the drought been in short
bad has the drought been in short
bad has the drought been in short California’s drought has rewritten its
California’s drought has rewritten its
California’s drought has rewritten its record books in January 2015
record books in January 2015
record books in January 2015 Governor Jerry Brown declared
Governor Jerry Brown declared
Governor Jerry Brown declared drought state of emergency as the issue
drought state of emergency as the issue
drought state of emergency as the issue headed into its fourth consecutive year
headed into its fourth consecutive year
headed into its fourth consecutive year and by early May authorities had imposed
and by early May authorities had imposed
and by early May authorities had imposed unprecedented water usage restrictions
unprecedented water usage restrictions
unprecedented water usage restrictions on residents rivers and lakes appeared
on residents rivers and lakes appeared
on residents rivers and lakes appeared to be literally disappearing and state
to be literally disappearing and state
to be literally disappearing and state snowpack levels which is the snow
snowpack levels which is the snow
snowpack levels which is the snow covering the Sierra Nevada that normally
covering the Sierra Nevada that normally
covering the Sierra Nevada that normally provides California with water had been
provides California with water had been
provides California with water had been reduced to five percent of what it
reduced to five percent of what it
reduced to five percent of what it usually is the lowest level experienced
usually is the lowest level experienced
usually is the lowest level experienced in half a millennium according to an
in half a millennium according to an
in half a millennium according to an american geophysical union accepted
american geophysical union accepted
american geophysical union accepted study the general climate conditions in
study the general climate conditions in
study the general climate conditions in California during its four-year drought
California during its four-year drought
California during its four-year drought were the worst in 1,200 years number two
were the worst in 1,200 years number two
were the worst in 1,200 years number two how our citizens handling the drought in
how our citizens handling the drought in
how our citizens handling the drought in general there was an unrivaled effort to
general there was an unrivaled effort to
general there was an unrivaled effort to preserve water although high statistical
preserve water although high statistical
preserve water although high statistical targets were often missed there was also
targets were often missed there was also
targets were often missed there was also a very real need for the agricultural
a very real need for the agricultural
a very real need for the agricultural sector to find alternative ways of
sector to find alternative ways of
sector to find alternative ways of working especially as there were
working especially as there were
working especially as there were indications that similar disasters are
indications that similar disasters are
indications that similar disasters are likely to occur in the future
likely to occur in the future
likely to occur in the future drilling for groundwater has become a
drilling for groundwater has become a
drilling for groundwater has become a hugely important business as farmers
hugely important business as farmers
hugely important business as farmers anxiously look underground with less and
anxiously look underground with less and
anxiously look underground with less and less obtainable from the Earth’s surface
less obtainable from the Earth’s surface
less obtainable from the Earth’s surface in some areas drills have bored more
in some areas drills have bored more
in some areas drills have bored more than 1500 feet tapping water millions of
than 1500 feet tapping water millions of
than 1500 feet tapping water millions of years old no water higher our cost
years old no water higher our cost
years old no water higher our cost higher it is for milk and it just kind
higher it is for milk and it just kind
higher it is for milk and it just kind of trickles down I don’t even know if
of trickles down I don’t even know if
of trickles down I don’t even know if we’re gonna get water out of it it’s
we’re gonna get water out of it it’s
we’re gonna get water out of it it’s just a risk you take basically I guess a
just a risk you take basically I guess a
just a risk you take basically I guess a desperate measure in desperate times the
desperate measure in desperate times the
desperate measure in desperate times the water is sometimes so rich in unknown
water is sometimes so rich in unknown
water is sometimes so rich in unknown minerals that it’s actually killing
minerals that it’s actually killing
minerals that it’s actually killing crops itself or mutating their future
crops itself or mutating their future
crops itself or mutating their future growth number one how is this related to
growth number one how is this related to
growth number one how is this related to climate change with 2015 marking
climate change with 2015 marking
climate change with 2015 marking California’s fourth year of drought
California’s fourth year of drought
California’s fourth year of drought there were real concerns regarding the
there were real concerns regarding the
there were real concerns regarding the lack of water and what that could mean
lack of water and what that could mean
lack of water and what that could mean for the future of the state as it
for the future of the state as it
for the future of the state as it continues to battle the ever spreading
continues to battle the ever spreading
continues to battle the ever spreading wildfires this of course brings up the
wildfires this of course brings up the
wildfires this of course brings up the question of climate change and whether
question of climate change and whether
question of climate change and whether or not it’s related to the drought
or not it’s related to the drought
or not it’s related to the drought itself and the subsequent fires while
itself and the subsequent fires while
itself and the subsequent fires while the American Meteorological Society
the American Meteorological Society
the American Meteorological Society found no conclusive connection between
found no conclusive connection between
found no conclusive connection between California’s plight and climate change
California’s plight and climate change
California’s plight and climate change there is continual evidence showing that
there is continual evidence showing that
there is continual evidence showing that rising temperatures have resulted in
rising temperatures have resulted in
rising temperatures have resulted in overlapping dry periods
overlapping dry periods
overlapping dry periods that four year period on America’s West
that four year period on America’s West
that four year period on America’s West Coast proved an especially damaging
Coast proved an especially damaging
Coast proved an especially damaging example of the power of Mother Nature
example of the power of Mother Nature
example of the power of Mother Nature did these facts get you thinking to vote
did these facts get you thinking to vote
did these facts get you thinking to vote for which news story is covered next
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