“If You Are in Denial About Climate Change, Come to California”
—Governor Gavin Newsom
Number of acres burned in all of 2019: 259,000 Number of acres burned to date in 2020: 3,400,000 (an amount greater than all of Connecticut; equal to 4,000 Central Parks)
This year is now the largest wildfire season recorded in California history, with more than 7,000 fire incidents.
Right now, the first-, third-, and fourth-largest fires in California’s history are all burning.
Natural Wonders, Ravaged
Number of trees destroyed in the Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest (which contains giant redwoods): 150 million (equivalent to roughly two percent of all of the state’s trees).
Property Lost
Structures destroyed in the 2019 fires: 732.
Structures destroyed to date in the 2020 fires: 4,700.
Towering Economic Cost
Cost so far to the state of California: $80 billion (roughly equal to the price of eight of today’s World Trade Centers).
Overwhelmed Forces
Number of firefighters currently battling California wildfires: 16,000.
Number of firefighters in all of New York City: 11,000.