California wildfire causes mass destruction

While the “Camp Fire” wildfire that began on Nov. 8 in Northern California has been contained by firefighters, the lives it took, the houses it destroyed and the towns it scorched are going to have lasting effects.

By Nov. 14, close to 80 people had perished due to the fires, almost 700 people were missing and 130,000 acres of land had been completely burned. The town of Paradise, California is destroyed and 11,000 homes have been burnt to a crisp. The mansions of many celebrities have been scorched to the ground in the fires as well. Singer Miley Cyrus, actor Neil Young and reality star Caitlyn Jenner are among the celebrities that have lost their luxurious homes to the flames.

“My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong,” Cyrus said according to The New York Times.

The fire began in the rural parts of the state, but within days, it became a huge urban problem.

Ever since the start of the fires, experts have been trying to figure out the origins of the fire and exactly what caused it. According to The New York Times, in the past, wildfires have been attributed to “a man with a hammer working on a fence post in a field of dry vegetation,” or a “backyard barbeque.” To figure out the cause of a wildfire, investigators look at all aspects of the forests, from the burn marks on a pebble to the conditions of the soil.

When it comes to the “Camp Fire,” the origin of the fire was a low humidity day, winds and a drought. While the specific cause if the fire is not official yet, some think it may be an electrical problem. Others believe it could be caused by something as simple as a cigarette. Although officials do not know exactly what caused the fire,  what they do know is that strong winds are what caused it to spread too rapidly.

Climate Change is also a very viable cause of the fire. Due to the warmer climate, drying of air has increased “fire-season fuel aridity”, according to the Pacific Standard.

Due to the horrific damage it has caused, the Campfire is being labeled the most destructive wildfire to ever occur in California. All it took was a spark to burn homes, nature and towns to the ground.