California on Fire

While the wildfires in California have not been making headline news as of late, they are far from extinguished. Many wildfires continue to blaze in several different regions of California. Currently, there are four major areas the California government is considering active fires. These include the Aruba Fire, Bridge Fire, Clador Fire and the Dixie fire. According to the California Office of Emergency Services, a staggering 31,000 residents have been evacuated as a result of these fires. Currently, there are more than 12,000 firefighters heroically fighting to contain the flames. As of Sept. 3, the largest of the fires is the Dixie fire, consuming 927,320 acres directly above the Cresta Dam in Northern California. Fortunately, firefighters have contained 59% of the massive, blazing inferno. Closer to home in Dana Point, the nearest wildfire resides in Cleveland National Forest. The Chaparral Fire has ravaged around 1472 acres of land; however, it is practically contained. The Cleveland National Forest has been temporarily closed due to these fires from Aug. 21 through Sept. 17, 2021. On that note, there are many other local national parks which have been closed under the same circumstances, including Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Wildfires are a natural process; however, the effects of these flames have been felt by residents all over California. Luckily, many are continuing the fight to contain them. I hope we pull through the wildfire season steadily and begin the process of healing.