Humans are directly responsible for around 90% of the state’s wildfires, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire.
Researchers from 15 universities examined wildfire data from 1980 through 2020. They found that wildfires are getting worse as a result of climate change. But they also found that humans were the ignition source for almost all of the infernos.
“It could be from anything like someone throwing a cigarette out of a car or using machinery that causes a spark. Accidents also happen. People don’t properly put out a campfire and with this dry vegetation and hot temperatures, it doesn’t take much to start stoking a big fire,” said UCLA professor and lead author Glen MacDonald in a quote from KTLA.
Arson is another factor in some wildfires.
“This whole thing can’t be blamed on climate change. It’s certainly exacerbating things and it’s something that’s happening across the whole state, but we have a whole bunch of things happening, you know, that will promote fire in the state, and it will be different in different locations,” MacDonald added.