Malibu Wildfire

• 17 Dec 2024

Source: TOI 

Recently, a significant wildfire, known as the Franklin Fire, erupted in Malibu, California, prompting the evacuation of residents. 

• Experts attribute the Franklin Fire's destructiveness to the "Santa Ana" winds and climate change. 
  • Santa Ana winds occur when high pressure over the Great Basin (the area between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada) and low pressure over California's coast drive strong winds from inland deserts over mountains to the Pacific Ocean. 
  • The winds usually occur from October to January. 
• Wildfire: A wildfire is an uncontrolled, unplanned fire in natural areas like forests or grasslands, spreading due to environmental factors like wind and terrain. 
• Types of Wildfire: 

 

• Indian Scenario: 
  • According to the ISFR 2021 by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), 35.47% of forest cover is classified as fire-prone. 
    • The highest number of forest fires reported are in Mizoram (3,738), Manipur (1,702), Assam (1,652), Meghalaya (1,252), and Maharashtra (1,215). 
  • Government Initiatives: 
    • National Action Plan for Forest Fires (NAPFF) 
    • The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM)

Read More: Forest Fires