Increasing Number of Americans Residing in High-Risk Wildfire Areas
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New York, Jan 10 (NationPress) Thousands have been forced to evacuate as wildfires rage through the Los Angeles area of the United States. The origins of the Palisades and Eaton fires, the two primary outbreaks, are still being examined, yet weather conditions have significantly contributed to their escalation. Experts label these regions as the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
An increasing number of individuals across the United States are now residing in this transitional area where open spaces intersect with residential development, and the dangers are rising as climate change leads to more severe fires, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing Bloomberg News.
The vulnerability of WUI zones to wildfires arises from the mix of open land, parks, and residential structures, explains Crystal Kolden, the director of the Fire Resilience Center at the University of California, Merced. "Many of these homes and developments are designed in ways that feature numerous highly flammable shrubs and trees both on and between properties."
"Despite the associated risks, a growing populace is choosing to live within the WUI. Data indicates that from 1990 to 2010, approximately 25 million people relocated there, and 12.7 million homes were constructed," the report stated.
This trend is partly driven by soaring housing costs in other areas and a wish to reside in close proximity to nature, according to Rebecca Paterson, a representative of the National Interagency Fire Center, which oversees wildfire logistics and coordination in the US. Concurrently, research suggests that access to green spaces leads to higher property values.
This expansion undoubtedly poses numerous challenges, particularly in terms of wildfire management, Paterson noted.
Previously, several significant wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County, the most densely populated county in the US, have resulted in at least five fatalities and damage to over 1,100 structures, according to authorities.
The Palisades fire, a destructive wind-fueled brush fire in Pacific Palisades that began on Tuesday, has consumed 15,800 acres (63.9 square kilometers) as of Wednesday afternoon, with no containment reported, as per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on Wednesday.
The inferno has obliterated around 1,000 structures, including many upscale homes nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, compelling thousands to evacuate as new warnings were issued for Malibu.
