{"id":2604,"date":"2024-10-15T13:22:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T19:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtnmamas.org\/?p=2604"},"modified":"2025-01-08T13:54:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T19:54:44","slug":"its-still-wildfire-season-heres-how-were-adapting-to-our-new-normal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtnmamas.org\/sp\/its-still-wildfire-season-heres-how-were-adapting-to-our-new-normal\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Still Wildfire Season \u2013 Here\u2019s How We\u2019re Adapting to Our New Normal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many of us live in the Mountain West region because we love hiking, camping, biking, swimming, climbing, and generally being outside with our families. However, each year it seems like we are seeing longer, more severe wildfire seasons, which can really dampen the magic that the mountains offer. Instead of lacing up our hiking boots or packing our tents in an attempt to create lasting memories, we are left questioning if it\u2019s actually safe to recreate outside with our kids.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, our \u201cnew normal\u201d is to expect severe wildfires and air quality alerts every summer. But the wildfire season has extended so long in recent years that it\u2019s no longer just during the summer. They now happen during almost every month of the year. Here is a map<\/a> that shows wildfires burning now. However, this doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that we have to hole up inside all the time, or even during the peak summer season! Instead, we can learn how to mitigate impacts to our health during the worst peaks of wildfire season and adapt to continue enjoying all the beauty the mountains have to offer us and pass on our love for the outdoors to the next generation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The connection between climate change, drought, and fire<\/h2>\n

The water crisis in the Mountain West region has essentially placed us on the front lines of climate change in the U.S. Over the last several decades, the hotter, drier conditions caused by climate change have increased the length and severity of wildfire seasons. In fact, a 2021 study<\/a> supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has shown that we can point to climate change as a primary driver for the increase in wildfire activity in the Western U.S.<\/p>\n

Climate change has directly caused a decrease in average annual snowfall, melting glaciers and snowpack, and warmer temperatures early in the springtime. These combined factors lead to a decreased water supply in the dead heat of summer, which typically causes wildfires to start more easily, burn hotter, and spread further.<\/p>\n

As it stands now, we will likely see the impacts from climate change in the Mountain West region get worse before they get better. However, there are still ways that we can manage and adapt to these conditions for the health and safety of ourselves and our kids. One of those ways is understanding how to avoid human-caused wildfires.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Avoiding human-caused wildfires<\/h2>\n

Natural and spontaneous conditions out of our control, like severe heat and extended droughts, a lack of soil moisture, lightning, and a blanket of dry leaves can all spark a wildfire. However, research points to humans causing over 80% of wildfires<\/a> from 1992-2012. To be good stewards of this land, then, means that it is our responsibility to avoid known causes of wildfires and to teach our children to do the same. Here are some ways to avoid starting a fire yourself:<\/p>\n