The west coast has once again faced a devastating fire over the weekend, with California suffering its largest blaze of the year. The Post Fire broke out in rural Gorman and burned over 5,900 hectares in just two days, leading to the evacuation of 1,200 people. Despite the efforts of 1,150 firefighters, the fire was only 8% contained on Monday morning.
This latest incident has raised fears of an intense fire season ahead, as two consecutive rainy years have led to dense vegetation that could act as fuel. Climatologist Daniel Swain warned that by July, there is likely to be a very active fire season, especially at low altitudes. This could be a sign of things to come as around fifteen smaller fires broke out across the state over the weekend.
The state has experienced two consecutive rainy winters, which have encouraged the growth of vegetation that is now drying out as summer approaches. Scientists attribute these repeated heat waves to global warming and expect them to increase in frequency, duration, and intensity. Abnormally high temperatures in the pre-summer period could be a sign of a sweltering summer to come.
