Thousands Flee as California, Nevada Wildfires Swell
Thousands Flee as California, Nevada Wildfires Swell
The Facts
The states of California and Nevada have reportedly evacuated around 31K people as wildfires expanded rapidly in the two states on Sunday amid a worsening heat wave.
California's blaze, which lit up Thursday in the city of Highland near the San Bernardino Mountains, has reportedly ravaged more than 20K acres by Sunday.
The Spin
Climate change has in recent years become the spark igniting wildfires, transforming forests into tinderboxes. Studies indicate that human-induced warming has doubled the likelihood of fire-prone weather. Increasingly, scientists are shocked by the unprecedented scale of the infernos whose impact are not bound by borders. Given that there is little progress in curbing the consumption fossil fuels, wildfires will only grow more frequent and severe.
Climate scientists face pressure to exaggerate the role of climate change in wildfires, often at the expense of other crucial factors. This distortion stems from the academic system's emphasis on publishing in prestigious journals, which favor dramatic narratives about climate impacts. Researchers often admit to tailoring their studies to fit this narrative, downplaying other significant influences like human-caused ignitions and poor forest management. This leads to less useful findings, potentially hindering the development of effective solutions.
