Often when people talk about climate change, they'll use a hyperbolic expression to describe the planet's rising temperature — like saying that the world is on fire. Well, at the moment, it's not just hyperbole. Wildfires are cropping up all over the globe, torching millions of acres of land, sending thousands of people fleeing for safety, destroying ecosystems, and creating a slew of other unfortunate side effects like poor air quality that can linger even after the flames are put out.
In the United States, another devastating wildfire season is well under way. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 2021 has already seen more than 6,000 fires that have destroyed more than half a billion acres of land and 400 buildings, including homes. If history holds, the worst is yet to come, as bigger wildfires tend to hit later in the season when conditions are especially hot and dry. But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of massive blazes burning right now, with the Dixie Fire — the largest ongoing fire in California — worst among them. The Dixie Fire has destroyed more than 300,000 acres of land on its own since it started last month after a power line from notoriously terrible utilities company PG&E sparked the flame. The wildfire, which is just 35% contained and is already the sixth-largest uncontrolled burn in the state's history, is forcing evacuations from a number of towns in its path. All told, it's expected to destroy dozens — if not hundreds — of homes and businesses as it continues to burn.
