September 2020 Western United States wildfires facts for kids
In 2020, the Western United States faced many large wildfires. These fires started in August due to strong thunderstorms across California, Oregon, and Washington. More fires began in early September along the West Coast.
Strong, gusty winds and very dry land helped these fires grow quickly. Many of them became huge, record-breaking fires called megafires. These fires burned over 4.6 million acres (about 1.9 million hectares) of land. Sadly, at least 35 people lost their lives, and some people were still missing.
The main reasons these wildfires were so bad were Climate change and how forests were managed.
Contents
What Caused the 2020 Wildfires?
The 2020 wildfires in the Western U.S. had several causes. One big reason was the weather. In August, strong thunderstorms brought a lot of lightning. This lightning struck dry areas and started many fires.
How Weather Made Fires Worse
After the lightning, strong winds blew across the West Coast. These winds helped the small fires grow very fast. The land was also very dry and hot, which gave the fires more fuel to burn. This combination of dry land, hot weather, and strong winds made it hard to stop the fires.
Climate Change and Forest Management
Scientists say that Climate change made the fires worse. Climate change leads to hotter and drier conditions, which makes forests more likely to burn. Also, how forests have been managed over many years played a part. Sometimes, too many dead trees and plants build up in forests. This extra "fuel" makes fires burn hotter and spread faster.
Impact of the Wildfires
The 2020 wildfires had a huge impact on people and nature. They burned a massive amount of land, including forests, homes, and businesses.
Damage to Homes and Nature
Many people lost their homes and everything they owned. The fires also destroyed natural habitats for animals. Smoke from the fires traveled far, causing unhealthy air quality in many areas. Sometimes, the fires were so big they created their own weather, including special clouds called fire clouds.
Helping Each Other
Firefighters worked very hard to put out the fires and protect communities. Many people and organizations helped those who lost their homes. It was a difficult time, but people came together to support each other.
Images for kids
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How fires naturally happen in different parts of the United States
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A map showing how dry the United States was up to September 8, 2020. This map is kept by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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Map of centers that help manage wildfires across the country.
See also
In Spanish: Incendios en el oeste de Estados Unidos de 2020 para niños
