Share
Wildfire experts say the Northern California wildfire that has killed at least 56 is the deadliest in a century.
California officials say the fire burning in a rural area far north of San Francisco killed more people than any blaze in the state’s recorded history.
But the U.S. government doesn’t closely track civilian casualties and records from long ago are incomplete.
Stephen Pyne, a regent professor at Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences and author of “Between Two Fires: A Fire History of Contemporary America,” and Crystal Kolden, a professor at the University of Idaho and expert in fire science, said 1918 was the last time more people were killed in a wildfire.
Not Keeping Good Statistics on Civilian Casualties From Wildfires
“For the modern era, this is definitely going to go down as the deadliest on record for the U.S.,” said Kolden, who has studied wildfires for 20 years since she worked as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service.
A century ago, the Cloquet Fire broke out in drought-stricken northern Minnesota and raced through a number of rural communities, destroying thousands of homes and killing an estimated 1,000 people. The fire helped prompt the federal government to start developing firefighting practices and policies.
Pyne, who was a firefighter before he began researching wildfires in 1977, said U.S. government agencies still don’t keep good statistics on civilian casualties from wildfires.
“Fire statistics are not very good because they’re remotely generated,” he said. “It’s very hard to find out even how many houses burned in a year.”
RELATED TOPICS:
Warren Buffett Shocks Shareholders by Announcing His Intention to Retire at the End of the Year
2 days ago
Don’t Have a REAL ID Yet? That Could Cause You Travel Headaches After May 7
2 days ago
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Wins a Second 3-Year Term
2 days ago
Justice Department Will Switch Its Focus on Voting and Prioritize Trump’s Elections Order
2 days ago
Newsom Jabs at Trump and Musk, but Will AI Make California More Efficient?
2 days ago
Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies
2 days ago
Voters to Decide if Home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Should Become an Official City: Starbase
2 days ago
World’s Tallest and Smallest Dogs Meet Up for a Playdate
2 days ago
Looking for New Ways to Celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Days in Fresno?
19 hours ago
Categories

Looking for New Ways to Celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Days in Fresno?

A Tidal Wave of Change Is Headed for the U.S. Economy

Warren Buffett Shocks Shareholders by Announcing His Intention to Retire at the End of the Year

Don’t Have a REAL ID Yet? That Could Cause You Travel Headaches After May 7

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Wins a Second 3-Year Term
