The causes behind the devastating fires that have resulted in significant loss of life and property in the United States are diverse, ranging from electrical line malfunctions to lightning strikes and human error.
The rapidly spreading fire swept through the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui, claiming the lives of over 90 people and becoming the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but all suspicions are pointing towards electrical equipment in the area, as reported by Phys.org on August 15.
Across the United States, wildfires are increasingly intensifying and becoming more frequent due to climate change leading to prolonged droughts. The initial causes can be varied, from electrical lines short-circuiting, lightning strikes, or a cigarette discarded from a car window, but the outcome remains the same. As vegetation dries out, it can easily catch fire.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, turning Hawaii’s Maui into a hell. (Photo: ABC News)
The Camp Fire
In November 2018, flames leveled the town of Paradise in California, resulting in over 80 fatalities and destroying more than 18,000 structures. This was the deadliest and most destructive fire in the state’s history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The fire is believed to have been ignited by electrical lines from the state’s largest utility company, PG&E Corp. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019, facing $30 billion in compensation claims from various fires. In 2020, PG&E was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the Camp Fire.
The August Complex Fire
The August Complex fire, the largest in California, lasted nearly three months at the end of 2020, destroying over 400,000 acres before being completely extinguished. The fire was sparked by lightning, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It ravaged areas in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Glenn, Lake, and Colusa counties, becoming the second-largest fire in U.S. history.
The Marshall Fire
More than 1,000 homes were burned near Boulder, Colorado, just days after Christmas in 2021, as extreme winds propelled flames across the dry terrain. This was the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history. According to police reports, there were two separate fires involved. The first fire spread from rotting wood and twigs catching fire at a home, while the primary cause of the second fire was sparks from electrical lines. Ultimately, the two fires merged, burning approximately 2,428 acres of land. Xcel Energy Inc. denied the conclusion that their electrical lines caused the second fire.
The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires consumed over 137,593 acres in New Mexico during late spring and early summer of 2022. This wildfire ranks among the largest in the state’s history, caused by smoldering debris from a controlled burn that took place in January. Randy Moore, director of the U.S. Forest Service, accepted responsibility for their role in unintentionally igniting the fire.
