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'Monster' wildfire season grips west coast residents with fears of future devastation 'Monster' wildfire season grips west coast residents with fears of future devastation
(about 1 hour later)
In the end, Ira and Carolyn Hodge drove out with some photos, their clothes, their horse and their dog, Harley.In the end, Ira and Carolyn Hodge drove out with some photos, their clothes, their horse and their dog, Harley.
Their home took seven years for them to build and contained everything they owned - vehicles, mementos from their parents, memories. All of it was reduced to fine ash when the fire swept down the high sides of the densely forested gorge that bottoms out at Canyon Creek in Grant County, Oregon, six hours’ drive east of Portland. Their home took seven years for them to build and contained everything they owned – vehicles, mementos from their parents, memories. All of it was reduced to fine ash when the fire swept down the high sides of the densely forested gorge that bottoms out at Canyon Creek in Grant County, Oregon, six hours’ drive east of Portland.
“It was a monster,” Ira says. “A beast.”“It was a monster,” Ira says. “A beast.”
He and Carolyn were helping a neighbour hose down their house when it became clear the fire was moving with astonishing speed towards them. “We had five minutes to get out,” Ira recalls. They tossed the few things they had gathered in their car, rounded up their frightened horse and fled over a wooden bridge that burned behind them.He and Carolyn were helping a neighbour hose down their house when it became clear the fire was moving with astonishing speed towards them. “We had five minutes to get out,” Ira recalls. They tossed the few things they had gathered in their car, rounded up their frightened horse and fled over a wooden bridge that burned behind them.
Ira has since talked to experts who came up to survey the damage. They said that the flames may have reached 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt copper and aluminium. They sifted through the rubble and there was almost nothing left.Ira has since talked to experts who came up to survey the damage. They said that the flames may have reached 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit – hot enough to melt copper and aluminium. They sifted through the rubble and there was almost nothing left.
Harley recovered just one possession: a charred bone he had buried somewhere in the yard.Harley recovered just one possession: a charred bone he had buried somewhere in the yard.
When you drive south out of John Day, up into the canyon towards the Malheur national forest, the flattened homes and the blackened Douglas firs and ponderosas tell this summer’s story.When you drive south out of John Day, up into the canyon towards the Malheur national forest, the flattened homes and the blackened Douglas firs and ponderosas tell this summer’s story.
Wildfires are capricious, and some houses are untouched. But those that the fire found were razed, and the forest it burned will take decades to recover.Wildfires are capricious, and some houses are untouched. But those that the fire found were razed, and the forest it burned will take decades to recover.
Thirty-six homes were destroyed in Grant County on 14 August. That night, the Canyon Creek Complex fire became the most destructive in Oregon for 80 years. The national media glanced and moved on, but the fire is still burning on just over 105,000 acres. That’s about 10 times the size of Manhattan.Thirty-six homes were destroyed in Grant County on 14 August. That night, the Canyon Creek Complex fire became the most destructive in Oregon for 80 years. The national media glanced and moved on, but the fire is still burning on just over 105,000 acres. That’s about 10 times the size of Manhattan.
In Oregon as a whole, there are 11 large fires burning on 435,799 acres. In Washington there are 14 burning on 900,000 acres. This season – which is still in full swing – has seen 1,422,880 acres burned in the two states, or 2,223 square miles, an area just a little smaller than the state of Delaware.In Oregon as a whole, there are 11 large fires burning on 435,799 acres. In Washington there are 14 burning on 900,000 acres. This season – which is still in full swing – has seen 1,422,880 acres burned in the two states, or 2,223 square miles, an area just a little smaller than the state of Delaware.
More than 11,000 firefighters are still in the field. Firefighting resources in the American west are completely committed, and both states have called out their national guardsmen to help contain the blazes. Firefighters have come from as far away as Australia and New Zealand to pitch in, and three firefighters died while in duty.More than 11,000 firefighters are still in the field. Firefighting resources in the American west are completely committed, and both states have called out their national guardsmen to help contain the blazes. Firefighters have come from as far away as Australia and New Zealand to pitch in, and three firefighters died while in duty.
In the busy Canyon Creek Incident Command Center at the John Day fairgrounds, Morgan Warthen of the Northwest Interagency Command told me that while there might be year on year fluctuations, “when we look at the big picture, we’re looking at longer fire seasons and more acreage burned”. In the busy Canyon Creek Incident Command Center at the John Day fairgrounds, Morgan Warthen of the Northwest Interagency Command told me that while there might be year-on-year fluctuations, “when we look at the big picture, we’re looking at longer fire seasons and more acreage burned”.
That’s reflected in the way that the nation’s scarce firefighting resources are deployed. At the beginning of August, the US Department of Agriculture published a report showing that the amount the US Forest Service spends on fighting wildfires has blown out from 16% of its budget in 1995 to just over 50% this year. That’s reflected in the way that the nation’s scarce firefighting resources are deployed. At the beginning of August, the US Department of Agriculture published a report showing that the amount the US Forest Service spends on fighting wildfires has expanded from 16% of its budget in 1995 to just over 50% this year.
This leads to a vicious spiral. The high cost of fighting wildfires means less money for non-firefighting services, including wildfire prevention.This leads to a vicious spiral. The high cost of fighting wildfires means less money for non-firefighting services, including wildfire prevention.
And firefighting now costs more in part because more of us are living in what experts and firefighters call the “urban-wildlands interface”.And firefighting now costs more in part because more of us are living in what experts and firefighters call the “urban-wildlands interface”.
Professor Roger Hammer of Oregon State University in Corvallis studies the increased fire risks posed by people living in wilderness settings and how to mitigate them. He says that the cost of firefighting has perhaps doubled since more of us in the American west have moved into areas where, in another age, no one would have thought to build a house – ridge-tops, forests and canyons. Professor Roger Hammer of Oregon State University in Corvallis studies the increased danger posed by fires as a result of people living in wilderness settings and how to mitigate those risks. He says that the cost of firefighting has perhaps doubled since more of us in the American west have moved into areas where, in another age, no one would have thought to build a house – ridge-tops, forests and canyons.
“Americans have always wanted to live in natural areas, because they’re beautiful,” he says. “But we’ve become less cognisant of fire danger.”“Americans have always wanted to live in natural areas, because they’re beautiful,” he says. “But we’ve become less cognisant of fire danger.”
In southern California or Aspen, Colorado, living amid such natural beauty may be a function of wealth and privilege. But in places like Grant County – one of the poorest parts of Oregon – people may be in search of affordability. One policy problem on the west coast is that building permits and zoning are done at a local level, where policymakers share an interest with developers in local growth.In southern California or Aspen, Colorado, living amid such natural beauty may be a function of wealth and privilege. But in places like Grant County – one of the poorest parts of Oregon – people may be in search of affordability. One policy problem on the west coast is that building permits and zoning are done at a local level, where policymakers share an interest with developers in local growth.
Another, says Hammer, is that the people in the most danger may be the least able to afford the measures – like replacing building materials – that will make them safer. “The Forest Service is doing a great job on the education side,” he says, “But we need to assist people to make changes on their properties.”Another, says Hammer, is that the people in the most danger may be the least able to afford the measures – like replacing building materials – that will make them safer. “The Forest Service is doing a great job on the education side,” he says, “But we need to assist people to make changes on their properties.”
It’s difficult to directly attribute the current wildfires to climate change. But they are certainly what scientists tell us that we can expect more of in the west as climate change takes hold. It’s difficult to directly attribute the current wildfires to climate change. But scientists tell us that we can expect more of them in the west as climate change takes hold.
Reduced mountain snowpacks (Oregon’s was 16% of the long-term average this year) leads to less runoff over a shorter period. The land dries out more quickly, and stays dry longer. Wildfires start earlier, burn longer, and finish later. It’s not rocket science. Reduced mountain snowpacks (Oregon’s was 16% of the long-term average this year) leads to less runoff over a shorter period. The land dries out more quickly, and stays dry longer. Wildfires start earlier, burn longer, and finish later.
In the west, this may mean that we need to do more than buy a Prius and carbon offsets. Some of us may have to move. And all of us may have to help make our neighbours’ homes safer, for everyone’s sake.In the west, this may mean that we need to do more than buy a Prius and carbon offsets. Some of us may have to move. And all of us may have to help make our neighbours’ homes safer, for everyone’s sake.
As I talked with the Hodges in the little church that Ira founded, the Interagency Command was evacuating Prairie City, 13 miles east of John Day. High winds and continuing dry weather had pushed the uncontrolled front north and east through open grasslands, towards the John Day River and US 26. As I talked with the Hodges in the little church that Ira founded, the Interagency Command was evacuating Prairie City, 13 miles east of John Day. High winds and continuing dry weather had pushed the uncontrolled front north and east through open grasslands, towards the John Day river and US 26.
Ira and Carolyn are not sure if they will rebuild their dream home up in the canyon. For now, they still seem bewildered by the fire that destroyed their first attempt. That still-burning fire should also have the rest of us thinking about a future in which the western wildfire season becomes an annual national emergency.Ira and Carolyn are not sure if they will rebuild their dream home up in the canyon. For now, they still seem bewildered by the fire that destroyed their first attempt. That still-burning fire should also have the rest of us thinking about a future in which the western wildfire season becomes an annual national emergency.
How can we address it, together?How can we address it, together?