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NO. The research data shows that 90% of forest fires are caused by humans by arson or error. The natural force of thunder storms and lightening is minor at 10%. There is no climate change issue here and in fact the global data shows a decline in wild fires.90% Of Wildfires Are Caused ByPeople, Not By "Climate Change"by Tyler DurdenFri, 08/03/2018 - 19:45Authored by Daisy Luther via The Organic Prepper blog, Wildfires have been particularly bad the past few years. It’s part of the reason my family and I moved out of California. (Only part – the laws there are crazy!)And while this year seems worse than ever, the first 6 months are it’s actually not quite as bad as last year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.So far this year, we’ve seen 37591 fires and 4,810,195 acres have burned. By this time last year, there had been 39,227 fires and 5,639,919 acres had been devastated. Of course, this is of little comfort to those dealing with this year’s fires. And right now, wildfires are burning across the nation, from Alaska, all the way to Florida. Here’s the current map from the NOAA that shows where the fires are.So, basically, everywhere west of Chicago with a couple in the east. What’s causing all these fires? Of course, the headlines are all breathlessly claiming that the fires are due to climate change because that’s the current agenda in the straw-seizing, politically correct world. But the fact is, they’re caused by people. 90% of the fires that are burning and have burned in the United States have been caused by the carelessness or deliberate intent of human beings. The US Department of the Interior says: Wildfires can be caused by nature - mostly due to lightning strikes- but the vast majority are caused by humans.Research estimates that 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by people. Some human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, and intentional acts of arson. It can also be caused unintentionally by heat and sparks from vehicles and equipment. Public education and personal responsibility can greatly reduce the number of wildfires each year. (source)Does anyone else remember the Smokey Bear ads? “Only YOU can prevent forest fires?” Something tells me they need to bring Smokey back to teach people how to enjoy nature more responsibly.But human error is only part of the issue. The fires are more intense now because of the because of the increased fuel loads. Dry grass, unchecked forest growth, and brush all add to the intensity and speed at which a fire burns. There are three conditions that need to be present in order for a wildfire to burn, which firefighters refer to as the fire triangle: fuel,oxygen, and a heat source. Fuel is any flammable material surrounding a fire, including trees, grasses, brush, even homes. The greater an area’s fuel load, the more intense the fire. Air supplies the oxygen a fire needs to burn. Heat sources help spark the wildfire and bring fuel to temperatures hot enough to ignite. Lightning, burning campfires or cigarettes, hot winds, and even the sun can all provide sufficient heat to spark a wildfire……Dry weather and drought convert green vegetation into bone-dry, flammable fuel; strong winds spread fire quickly over land; and warm temperatures encourage combustion. (source)Environmental policies that were designed in an effort to protect forests are actually responsible for destroying them because it’s increasing the fuel load for wildfires. A lack of forest management and yes, logging, has created forests so dense that it only takes a spark for them to go up in flames, and all of the fuel results in an intense, fast-moving blaze. Obviously, drought conditions make everything worse, and California has been on-and-off in a drought forever – or at least the past hundred years.Wildfires have always happened. Wildfires have long been nature’s method of forest management. The US Department of the Interior explains:Fire has always been a natural process that is essential to healthy ecological systems. In the early 1900s, land management agencies sought to suppress all fires in an effort to preserve the timber supply. Over the decades, fire exclusion led to more living and dead vegetation on the landscape, increasing the fuel and as a result, the risk of large wildfires in our forests, rangelands, and near communities. (source)A report from the Clemson University newspaper said: “Fire has always been a natural occurrence in our ecosystem that has many benefits,” said Derrick Phinney, a Clemson Cooperative Extension natural resources division leader based in Dorchester. “As far back as the American Indians, fire was a main staple of forest management. Whether intentionally set or started by lightning strikes, fire regenerates forests, renews the soil and basically resets the clock. But in more recent times, the number of prescribed burns has greatly decreased because of numerous reasons, such as air quality issues caused by smoke. When highways, schools and hospitals are built near or even within forests, this limits fire usage.”Because of these limitations, higher-than-normal buildups of undesirable fuel loads, such as invasive undergrowth, brush and ground litter, create conditions that, when combined with drought, low humidity and wind, can result in dire consequences. A fire that would normally flow through a forest doing relatively little harm to the larger trees instead burns so hot that it annihilates everything in its path.“They burn too hot, they burn too fast, they burn uncontrollably, especially in hilly and mountainous areas,” said Phinney, who has been involved in land management and environmental regulations for close to 20 years. “They say that fire runs up a hill and walks down a hill. Fire basically runs up hills because it super-heats the vegetation above where it’s burning. This can cause incredible damage.” (source) This leads us to another factor. Humans live where the fires are.As mentioned previously, poor forest management has led to additional fuel. Humans have carelessly caused fire after fire. And a third of our growing population lives in areas that are much more prone to burn. As our population grows, more and more people – one-third of homes, specifically – live in or near the forests and natural areas, something called Wildland-Urban Interface. According to a report by the USDA, if you are in that interface, sooner or later, you’re going to be at risk of a wildfire. “Homes located anywhere in the WUI will eventually be exposed to wildfire, regardless of vegetation type or potential for large fires.”This isn’t to say that humans all need to live in the city.“People move into areas where fires have always been. But they don’t prepare for them and, in many cases, aren’t even aware of how dangerous they can be,” said Carolyn Dawson, an Extension forestry agent based in the Upstate. “Then they’re shocked when a wildfire comes through and destroys their homes. We need to teach homeowners how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourage neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses in the future. There are things residents can do, such as reducing wildland fuels and structure ignitability, to protect their homes during a wildfire. Homes that don’t ignite don’t burn.” (source)It’s very important to know if you live in an area with a high potential for wildfire and if so, to prepare for the possibility. What can you do to protect your home? There are numerous things you can do to protect your home from a wildfire if you live in an area prone to them. The US Forest Service is bursting with information about the topic with their FireWise program. Here are some of their suggestions to prepare your home.Immediate zoneThe home and the area 0-5’ from the furthest attached exterior point of the home; defined as a non-combustible area. Science tells us this is the most important zone to take immediate action on as it is the most vulnerable to embers.START WITH THE HOUSEITSELF then move into the landscaping section of the Immediate Zone.Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris and pine needles that could catch embers. Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration. Reduce embers that could pass through vents in the eaves by installing 1/8 inch metal mesh screening. Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers. Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating. Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles – anything that can burn. Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.Intermediate zone5-30’ from the furthest exterior point of the home. Landscaping/hardscaping- employing careful landscaping or creating breaks that can help influence and decrease fire behavior Clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks. Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks. Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches. Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) so a surface fire cannot reach the crowns. Prune trees up to six to ten feet from the ground; for shorter trees do not exceed 1/3 of the overall tree height. Space trees to have a minimum of eighteen feet between crowns with the distance increasing with the percentage of slope. Tree placement should be planned to ensure the mature canopy is no closer than ten feet to the edge of the structure. Tree and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters of a few each to break up the continuity of the vegetation across the landscape.Extended zone30-100 feet, out to 200 feet. Landscaping – the goal here is not to eliminate fire but to interrupt fire’s path and keep flames smaller and on the ground. Dispose of heavy accumulations of ground litter/debris. Remove dead plant and tree material. Remove small conifers growing between mature trees. Remove vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area. Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops.* Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.* Another thing you can do is proof your roof with a non-flammable material, like asphalt shingles, metal, slate, or tile. That can be incredibly expensive, so another option, although less effective, is treating your existing roof with fire retardant, or install a rooftop sprinkler systemThese steps can be the difference between your home burning during a wildfire or being one of the homes left standing.You need to be ready to evacuate. Despite the best preparations, there are some cases in which you must evacuate. Wildfires can spread rapidly, especially if they ignite things like propane tanks. In 2015, the small town of Middleburg, California was literally burned off the map when this occurred. The videos in this article show the horror of evacuating through a wildfire. We lived on the edge of a wildfire more than once in California, but I’ll never forget the first one. Here’s that story if you want to know what it’s like. My former home of El Dorado County, California is currently under threat again, and all my dear friends and former neighbors are in my thoughts.For evacuation checklists and vehicle emergency kit checklists, you can grab my new PDF, The Prepper’s Book of Lists for $9.49. It contains more than 40 lists to help you get prepped and ready for anything. You should have a kit in your vehicle at all times for a rapid escape:• Swimming goggles: This will protect your eyes and help keep you from being blinded by smoke• Respirator masks: This doesn’t mean you will be able to breathe if the fire sucks all the oxygen from your environment, but it will help to filter out some of the smoke so you aren’t disabled by a coughing fit. If you don’t have tons of money to spend, even an N95 mask will help. Worst case scenario, wrap a bandana or t-shirt around your nose and mouth.• Fire extinguisher: In a worst case scenario if your vehicle catcheson fire, you may be able to put it out if you attack while the blaze is small.• Welding gloves: Remember the guy who burned his hands opening a gate? Welding gloves will offer some protection from hot surfaces.• Fill ‘er up: Keep your vehicle full of fuel at all times. Can you imagine running out of gas while fleeing for your life?Remember, if you live near a forest, you are at risk of a forest fire. It can happen any place that there’s fuel. Be prepared and be safe.https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-08-03/90-wildfires-are-caused-peoplenot-climate-change5-30’NASA Detects Drop inGlobal FiresThis data helps to see that yes the dirty thirties were much warmer than recent exaggerated alarmist warming!Bjørn LomborgCould we please stop with the misleading fire stories?The Economist cover story, like so many other stories these lastweeks, claim that forest fires are exceptional and record-breaking:"EARTH is smouldering. From Seattle to Siberia this summer, flameshave consumed swathes of the northern hemisphere"This is based on anecdotes, not data.Here is the data for area burnt in US forest fires from 1926 up untiltoday. (2018 is estimated on area burnt until August 3, which over thepast 10 years was 59.8%, scaling 2018 similarly.)As is evident, US burnt forest area has dramatically *declined* sincethe 1920s, 1930s and 1940, after which widespread fire suppressionwas introduced. As more burnable mass is piling up, fire is going upslightly.Now, it appears probable that global warming will lead to somewhatmore forest fires.But it is important to get a sense of proportion. US fires were *much*more destructive in the first part of last century.And this is also true globally. Because climate models need estimatesfor forest fires (because they emit CO₂) there are many and goodmodels going far back. In one recent overview, run with 124simulations, shows that while global warming will increase fires, weare now at a historic *minimum* of fires. Since 1900, fire activity hasdecreased about 20%. And even with the most damaging CO₂increases over this century, “wildfire emissions start to rise again afterca. 2020 but are unlikely to reach the levels of 1900 by the end of the321st century.” Climate, CO2 and human population impacts on global wildfire emissionsOverall, 2018 will likely see burnt area of one-fifth of the averageburnt area in the US in the 1930s.The US is smouldering less, not more.Data: National Interagency Fire Center, 2018based on burnt area until August3: National Interagency Fire CenterSince 1900 US foreests have remained stable at 745m acres ±5%with a low point in 1920 at 735macres, https://www.fia.fs.fed.us/slides/major-trends.pdf.Similar stories here: "World onFire", The world on fireSee my story on US forest fires lastyear, https://www.facebook.com/bjornlomborg/photos/fires-in-californiaand-elsewhere/10156121084368968/See similar EU data for the last 36years: https://www.facebook.com/bjornlomborg/photos/a.221758208967.168468.146605843967/10157018315208968/?type=3&theaterhttps://www.facebook.com/bjornlomborg/photos/a.221758208967.16The forest fires in Greece are a tragedy. Yet, everyone seems tosuggest that forest fires across Europe are spinning out of control,pushed by climate change.If you look at the data, this is just wrong.5The EU has 36 years of data for the EU Southern States (France,Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece), which makes up about 90% of allforest fires measured by the European Forest Fire InformationSystem (EFFIS). You can read their latest report (Forest fires inEurope, Middle East and North Africa 2016) which in its conclusion(p69) shows the same data as I'm showing here.Fundamentally, the amount of burnt area has *declined* over thepast 36 years from 600,000ha in 1980 to about 300,000 now.There is just no oh-my-god-we're-all-going-to-die here.A large part of this is due to technology: that we're better able tocontrol fire (which is also why we see a large drop in the US burntarea from the early part of last century until today. This is also whatstudies of global burning shows – that we have seen an incrediblylarge increase of forest fire in the early part of last century (morepeople, more fire), then fire suppression that will result in ever fewerfires until around 2050, after which global warming will make thetrend go up (but still not reach fire levels from the 1940s by 2100.(Driving forces of global wildfires over the past millennium and the forthcoming century)DATA: comes from the European Forest Fire Information System,http://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/media/cms_page_media/54/burnt_area_SSA8Odn.csvForest fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2016 availablehere: http://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reports-and-publications/annualfire-reports/There is a legitimate concern about the area burnt in 2017. Reportssuggest that the area burnt was very, very large (e.g.http://www.euronews.com/2017/10/16/how-europe-s-wildfireshave-more-than-trebled-in-2017). However, it also seems like theselarge numbers have been adjusted strongly downwards since: If youlook athttp://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/static/effis_current_situation/public/index.html# and press seasonal trend, you see the EU 2008-17 average at6end-of-year is 312,033ha. Since the csv has the data for EU 2008-16, you can recreate the value for 2017, which is 365,042. Eitherway, we have to wait to see the new publication of the EU numbersfor 2017 – and even the large number will still see the trend linedown from 600K to less than 400K.I'm looking at area, since this number indicates the actual damage,and it is hard to fudge. Number of fires depends more on when it isdiscovered and has less relationship to damages.https://www.facebook.com/bjornlomborg/photos/a.221758208967.168468.146605843967/10157018315208968/?type=3&theaterOver the last 40 years, there is a surprising trend with Californiawildfires “a decline in wildfires”By DANIEL TEDFORD | [email protected] | Daily NewsPUBLISHED: September 14, 2017 at 3:41 pm | UPDATED: September 17,2017 at 9:27 pmIn a year that is already being called one of the worst ever for wildfiresin the western United States, there is another fact that some may findremarkable: For nearly 40 years, the number of wildfires in Californiahas been declining.California wildfire data reviewed by a USGS research ecologist shows atrend that many may find hard to believe: Since a peak in 1980, therehave been fewer and fewer wildfires in California. This is true across theentire state, according to researcher Jon Keeley, who is also a professorat UCLA.7According to his paper, co-authored with Alexandra D. Syphard, weneed to rethink our ideas about the frequency of wildfires.“The claim commonly made in research papers and the media that fireactivity is increasing throughout the western USA is certainly an overstatement,”wrote the authors.