Fires, smoke with climate change
I love to garden, and I was very frustrated in recent months having to hide in the house day after day because of the smoky air. We were warned repeatedly that the air was unhealthy for everyone, so I stayed indoors. Therefore, I was not surprised recently to read in The Bee that “The Valley has worst air quality after year of fires” (12/28) and that “asthma events” due to smoke exposure will increase with ever more wildfires caused primarily by climate change.
The article explains that rising temperatures reduce the moisture in the soil, increase evaporation, cause snow and ice to melt faster, and will shorten the rainy season. Droughts are predicted to become more severe and frequent. Dry forests and other vegetation will be fuel for wildfires, and smoke from the fires will worsen air quality, resulting in millions of dollars of medical costs.
We need to free ourselves from the fossil fuels that are causing climate change. For example, we can require electric vehicles instead of gas-powered cars and trucks. It will not be easy or cheap, but we have no other choice if we want to improve our air quality, reduce health care costs, and stop climate change.
Ruth Afifi, Fresno
January 13, 2021
https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-replica-reader/?epub=https://eedition.fresnobee.com/ccidist-ws/mcclatchy/mcclatchy_frs_newsbroad/issues/48675/&token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJwdWJzIjp7ImZyZXNub19mcnNfbmV3c2Jyb2FkIjpbIkFMTEZSUy01MDMyIiwiQUxMRlJTLTUwMzIiLCJBTExGUlMtNTAzMiIsIkFMTEZSUy01MDMyIiwiZWVkaXRpb24iXX0sImlzcyI6Ik1jQ2xhdGNoeSIsInN1YiI6IjUwMDI3NTc4NiIsInNlc3Npb24iOjE2MTM0NDAyMTksImlhdCI6MTYxMDg0ODIxOSwiZXhwIjoxNjEwODQ5MTE5fQ.5DFxUtdsMNjzxYM2Rlv4jwmCIEybGvQ-3t1qyyM2zh0#/articles/11
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