The landscape smolders, as emergency lights of a passing firetruck cast addition red light. The Lake Fire consumes chaparral and forests on August 12, 2020 in Lake Hughes, California. The wildfire exploded to at least 10,000 acres in the first few hours with no containment and destroying several homes and out buildings in Pine Canyon.
The Climate emergency is exacerbating the conditions that make fires more catastrophic. Hotter and drier conditions are extending the wildfire season and contributing to larger fires.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unhealthy air is a serious public health emergency. Deadly air pollutants are exacerbated by dangerous smoke from these fires that threaten children, elderly populations, pregnant women, unhoused people, outdoor workers, and those with compromised immune systems and preexisting conditions.