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Wildfires in the United States

  • Writer: Sophia Annette van Zonneveld Quintana
    Sophia Annette van Zonneveld Quintana
  • Apr 20, 2021
  • 3 min read

APRIL 20, 2021

Sophia van Zonneveld

Claudia Chung



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“Dozens of fires have roared to life across the western states, burning millions of acres of forest and grassland. California has borne the brunt of the onslaught, with more than 5200 square miles going up in flames so far this year.” Thompson continues to elaborate on the destruction made in different states from these wildfires. That number greatly surpasses the state’s record of more than 3000 square miles set afire in 2018—and this year’s blazes have occurred before the prime period of the traditional wildfire season has even arrived. Six of the state’s 20 largest wildfires have ignited this year, including the largest on record: the August Complex fire, which has burned more than 1500 square miles and claimed the top spot from a 2018 conflagration called the Mendocino Complex. The inferno has also had an impact beyond the edge of the flames: smoke has poured into the atmosphere and blanketed the region, turning skies orange and making the air unhealthy to breathe.

While the impacts these wildfires have been causing are apparent, the long term effects have not been discussed. One of the long term effects of the recent wildfires is an extinction of an entire species. For example, the immense Australian wildfires that happened in 2019 led to the deaths of one billion animals. 30% of koalas were killed in these wildfires, and as of now, it is estimated that only 100,000 koalas remain, placing them in the critically endangered status. This and the decline in the population of many other species is one of the reasons why scientists have said that it may take centuries to recover from the wildfires’ damages if at all. This goes to show how the current California wildfires can make long-term and possibly irreversible damage with the extinction of species, especially with one’s native to California forests.

A bigger backlash of the extinction of one species is the possible collapse of an ecosystem. The loss of one single species can cause an ecosystem to collapse due to the dependence a species can have on another and the need for a balance. An example of an ecosystem that has collapsed is the Rapa Nui in Easter Island. Due to the mass deforestation in this island, many species have gone extinct, causing the collapse of the ecosystem. With the collapse of the environment, the popularity of the island decreased causing a decline in the island’s economy too. California is highly dependent on forests for construction supplies, tourism, and business. Further demonstrating how wildfires can have major repercussions not only on environmental issues but also on the economy if it isn’t managed correctly.

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