Talk:2018 California wildfires

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 28 June 2021 and 31 July 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Rstrait.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 16:37, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Increase in fuel
The section says A combination of an increased amount of natural fuel and compounding atmospheric conditions ... but the phrase natural fuel is controversial, as some people say that incorrect forestry practices are responsible for an increased amount of fuel left in place by human policies, and not because of purely natural causes. --Dthomsen8 (talk) 01:05, 27 September 2018 (UTC)


 * The fuel naturally increases, and I know of no human policy that affects the rate at which the fuel naturally increases (there may be a paper on climate change and southern California natural plant growth as opposed to CC and plants drying out; may be worth searching for). The problem with "forestry practices" is actually a problem with wildfire suppression practices. The natural ecology going back way before humans is for the fuel to increase up to a certain point and then burn -- some plants don't germinate well without fire. Put out the fires as they start and the fuel naturally increases until one day you get a huge fire. Hire a bunch more firefighters and the fires get even bigger, but farther apart in time.


 * This is a well known effect, but politically the firefighters are not allowed to stop putting out the fires if that means a few rich people losing their million dollar homes. Of course they eventually lose them anyway in the huge fires, but at least the firefighters can't be blamed for doing the best they can.


 * So can we find sources and reword the article to reflect this? Perhaps we should also mention that the spread of non-native Eucalyptus also makes the fires worse. --Guy Macon (talk) 22:34, 12 November 2018 (UTC)

Climate change
One user has repeatedly removed those parts of the article that deal with climate change. Unfortunately, the article is now frozen in a version without these parts. Several users have worked on this part, and we should revert the article to the version that contained this text. Already in August, scientific reports have discussed that the frequency and extent of wildfires in California will increase. The current wildfires, thus, have to be seen in the light of these reports and climate change. Nothing is controversial about these reports, or just an "opinion", as the IP user argues. If we discuss this topic in a encyclopedia, then we should also include these scientific arguments in this article. 80.71.142.166 (talk) 22:46, 11 November 2018 (UTC)


 * Here are more sources that discuss the connection between climate change and the number of wildfires: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181107172914.htm and https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/climate-change-fanning-megafires Given the large number of scientific articles that deal with this connection, it is difficult to imagine an article about the wildfires in California without discussing this scientific background. 80.71.142.166 (talk) 22:52, 11 November 2018 (UTC)
 * The current version has had the vandalism reverted, and does discuss climate change. NorthBySouthBaranof (talk) 23:20, 11 November 2018 (UTC)

Foehn wind?
Regarding the bit where it talks about Foehn winds, shouldn't that be Santa Ana winds? --Guy Macon (talk) 22:14, 12 November 2018 (UTC)
 * No, because they're not "Santa Ana winds" in Butte County. "Santa Ana winds" are a specific set of downslope winds that exist in Southern California and spill seaward from the Los Angeles Basin rim. Elsewhere in the state, "foehn" winds go by other localized names; Diablo winds, etc. but the general principle is the same. NorthBySouthBaranof (talk) 20:03, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

The 2018 wildfire season in California
The 2018 wildfire season in California THIS VIOLATES MOS:BOLDAVOID PLEASE UNLINK
 * Can someone look at this? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.89.200.170 (talk) 03:12, 13 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done, Hello, and thank you for lending your time to help improve Wikipedia! If you are interested in editing more often, I suggest you create an account to gain additional privileges. Happy editing! --B dash (talk) 05:39, 13 November 2018 (UTC)

Acreage Burned
The total that makes this season's total highest includes prescribed burns (see note 2). Is that practice consistent across years? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:2C6:4300:21BA:3CB7:E359:5E24:D09F (talk) 03:31, 13 November 2018 (UTC)

Causes ?
How come there are no mentions of what caused any of the fires?

Couldn't that be a column in the chart?

Just curious. 2600:8800:785:1300:C23F:D5FF:FEC4:D51D (talk) 17:43, 13 November 2018 (UTC)

Sierra Fire in San Bernadino near Fontana
https://ksby.com/news/fire-watch/2018/11/13/sierra-fire-in-san-bernadino-county-threatens-homes Ashton McIntyre of KSBY reported on Tuesday November 13, 2018, the Sierra wildfire occurring in San Bernadino is 75% contained but is moving south along Riverside Avenue. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.248.99.93 (talk) 19:47, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Linking California wildfires in lead
Can we link California wildfires in the lead? Anna Frodesiak (talk) 20:05, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Actually, that redirects to List of California wildfires, so maybe not. You decide. Anna Frodesiak (talk) 20:06, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 18 November 2018
Change the current deaths from Camp Fire from 56 to the latest number QuantumFury (talk) 09:43, 18 November 2018 (UTC)
 * What is the "latest number"? ― Abelmoschus  Esculentus  09:45, 18 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Pictogram voting wait.svg Already done The number has been updated to 76 as of right now. If it needs to be updated further, please make a specific request with a citation of a reliable source to support it. &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 15:54, 18 November 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 November 2018
the fatalities is 89 Halodiggy (talk) 00:14, 20 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. DannyS712 (talk) 00:23, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

the fatalities on wildfire california 2018 is increase to 89
Halodiggy (talk) 00:17, 20 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. DannyS712 (talk) 00:23, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 November 2018
"This new batch of wildfires includes the Woolsey Fire and Camp Fire, the latter of which has thus far killed 94 people and destroyed more than 10,321 structures, becoming both California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record."

This is not true yet. According to the Camp Fire page 77 have been killed so far.* (The building count appears to be at least 12,794, but at least that part is factually true.) The 94 figure appears to be conflating the total death count out of all fires this year.


 * Upon further reading of the Camp Fire page, the death toll is now up to 79, which is still less than 94.

Suggested change: "This new batch of wildfires includes the Woolsey Fire and Camp Fire, the latter of which has thus far killed 94 people and destroyed more than 10,321 structures, becoming both California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record." -> "This new batch of wildfires includes the Woolsey Fire and Camp Fire, the latter of which has thus far killed 79 people and destroyed more than 12,794 structures, becoming both California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record."

2602:306:C531:7310:D96:2A5D:2FE1:3129 (talk) 08:41, 20 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Can you provide a link to the Camp Fire page? Thanks, feminist (talk) 10:21, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Camp Fire Although it looks like the death toll has been rectified already. --2602:306:C531:7310:D96:2A5D:2FE1:3129 (talk) 19:36, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Are they ever going to update Tulare County?
I've noticed that according to the wildfires page, the fires in Tulare County are still burning, but their containment status has been the same for almost a week. Is someone going to update this to make it more accurate?