This summer has proven to be a deadly and destructive one for Washington State. While firefighters are holding their own against massive forest fires, they still have not been able to quell the fury of these insane flames.
It appears that unusually hot temperatures and high winds in the Evergreen State have conspired to create an almost perfect environment for wildfires this summer. The level of devastation is upsetting.
Since the start of Washington State’s wildfire season, an area the size of Rhode Island has been scorched by the flames.
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In the last week alone, three firefighters have been killed while trying to get the blaze under control.
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Despite amazing efforts, firefighters have been unsuccessful in extinguishing the largest fires.
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Nearby cities are blanketed in smoke.
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Most of us associate Washington with constant rain, so the fact that it’s being ravaged by fire is odd.
While it’s true that Washington State receives plenty of rainfall, most of it occurs near the coast.
The Cascade Mountains block moisture from getting very far inland. They create what is known as a “rain shadow” in the middle of the state. Combined with hot temperatures and heavy winds, this makes for ideal wildfire conditions.
(via Reddit)
Those are some apocalyptic images. The sad part about all of this is that these wildfires are bound to get worse from one season to the next as climate change continues to take its toll.
