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October 22, 2007
California Burning
Southern California is an inferno. Fires are raging in 7 counties, and in San Diego County, 250,000 residents have been told to flee. Over 600 homes burned to the ground today, and a dozen fires rage over 520 square miles. Truly frightening.
A lack of rain, warmer temperatures and increased development have created a literal tinder box, which, abetted by the Santa Ana winds is wreaking total havoc in SoCal.
It is painful to watch such destruction, and it provokes tough questions, about climate change, declining water resources, and continued rapid development in spite of these major problems.
Last night, 60 Minutes featured a troubling piece on the increased frequency and intensity of "mega" fires in the American West. Veteran firefighters noted the lengthening fire season from even a decade ago, as Spring comes earlier, the snow melts sooner, and summers are hotter.
Yesterday's NY Times Magazine looked at declining water resources in the West, a very alarming trend in areas of exploding population such as Las Vegas. The region is literally drying up, while people continue to flood in.
We hope policymakers are watching. More intense hurricanes and fires, drought conditions throughout much of the country, a dwindling snow pack in the western mountains, falling lake and river levels; the climate warms and our ecological balance is clearly out of whack. Will we act?
Posted by houtopia at October 22, 2007 10:22 PM