Fighting Fire by Taking Action
Taking action is the first necessary step to fighting wildfires which is why it is important to dig deeper into what can be done to help reduce them
Families can be completely devastated by the lasting impacts of wildfires, which is why it is crucial to prevent them from happening in the first place
Recently Northern California, Oregon and Washington state have been affected with forest fires that have affected thousands of acres of land and caused a loss of sense of security to the people that were living in these areas. Living in California, it’s common to be cautious when dealing with fire to avoid wildfires but sometimes following Smokey The Bear´s advice is not enough.
More often than not wildfires are started by people rather than by nature. The most common causes of wildfires are campfires, dropping cigarettes, arson and burning debris according to National Geographic.
Whenever put in a situation where the possibility of starting a forest fire is present, extreme precautions must be taken, such as putting out any fires that are unattended, never throwing a cigarette bud out of a moving vehicle, using caution when dealing with any flammable liquids and following all local fire safety guidelines. It might be tempting to have a small campfire with friends even if local authorities warn against it, but it is important to take others into consideration with every decision we make. These extra steps taken to prevent a wildfire could mean saving multiple people from losing their houses or even their lives.
According to the Insurance Information in Institute, a broader look at forest fire trends would show that they have been rapidly growing in numbers according to the Insurance Information in Institute. A cause of this increase in forest fires and their size could be attributed to the effects of climate change. Climate change has increased air dryness and decreased moisture in the soil. This combination gives perfect conditions for wildfires to spread. Global warming is leading to these conditions year-round which means that “forest fire season” is getting longer and longer every year. The center for climate and energy solutions has even deemed climate change one of the key factors in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the Western United States¨. This should be an extra push for us to take bigger action towards climate change as a whole.
The way people have treated the planet is beginning to show its effects. The time to take action is now so it is important to get involved in any way possible by joining in on movements such as Fridays for Future which pushes towards clean energy, which would help lessen greenhouse gasses and therefore help the planet begin to heal. Although important, this fight towards ending climate change won’t immediately fix the problems that wildfires have caused. Below are some organizations that work towards dealing with the immediate problems that fires have caused to the communities they affect.
The Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a reputable organization dedicated to helping those in need. In order to make a donation, you can visit the website at www.redcross.org/donate. From there you will see a drop-down tab labeled “I want to support” you will be able to click and choose the option to help western wildfires. Once you have chosen the amount you would like to donate and have submitted the information for payment the process is complete. There are also other ways to donate such as by calling 800-RED CROSS or texting the words WILDFIRES to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The money you donate will be used for various relief projects such as sheltering families, serving meals, supporting emergency responders, providing medical care and much more.
Global Giving Relief Fund
Global Giving helps in assisting first responders and providing immediate relief to people in affected areas by way of shelter, food, water, medicine and other materials that survivors of the fires might need. They work with local organizations in the regions affected and then decide to use their funds where they are needed most. In this way, the communities in most desperate need of help will get it first through the help of this organization’s funding. To be a part of that funding you can visit their donation page at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/california-wildfire-relief-fund/ and choose the amount you would like to donate. They are working towards helping long term in order to rehabilitate areas affected deeply by the fires in the future so donations will not only help immediately but will also be used to help communities down the line as they rebuild what the fires have damaged.
Cal Fire Foundation
If you’re looking for a place to donate specifically to the fire departments and first responders that work hard to fight wildfires the Cal Fire foundation is the place to go. Go to their website at calfire.foundation and you’ll find the first thing you will see is a button labeled “donate today.¨ These donations will go towards assisting firefighters and their families and will also be used to help with first response and funding aid to burn victims. This foundation helps the people who dedicate their lives to helping others. Firefighters risk everything to put these wildfires out so it is important that we remember to help them as they help us.
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