Wildfires have three essential components: a warm and dry climate, combustible fuel, and a source of ignition. The wind acts as an accelerant and has played a significant role in most recent wildfire disasters. The same can be said for Lahaina, but there are other overlooked factors at play.
One of these factors is grass. Hawaiian ecosystems are not adapted to wildfires, making them vulnerable. Invasive species, particularly flammable grasses, have displaced native species. Non-native plants like guinea grass, fountain grass, and molasses grass can create a continuous carpet of highly flammable fuel, wreaking havoc on ecosystems and abandoned agricultural areas.
These grass species thrive after a fire and can outcompete larger native shrubs and trees. This invasive grass-fire cycle is a national and global phenomenon and a growing issue on the U.S. mainland. Invasive cheatgrass, for example, promotes fires in sagebrush ecosystems, contributing to some of the largest fires in the United States. In Hawaii, non-native grasses and shrubs now cover about a quarter of the state, and even parking a car on a dry patch of tall grass can start a fire.
We have also built many homes in high-risk areas. Approximately 59 million homes in the Lower 48 have been constructed within a kilometer of a past wildfire. The location and construction of these homes put both people and their properties at risk without considering the probabilities or consequences. It is important to remember that the majority of wildfires threatening homes are caused by human activity. In Hawaii, 98 percent of wildfires are human-caused.
The impact of global warming means that the wildfire problem is rapidly surpassing our ability to respond. While
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
