A fire expert says there have been more fires in the state in recent years.
U.S. Geological Survey Fire Scientist Dr. Jon Keeley says the big reason for the increased frequency of major fires is lack of rainfall.
”Southern California has been in a drought since 2012. The impact of that drought – seven years of drought – is there’s massive die-off of vegetation in the hills surrounding these communities.”
He says there’s also been more settlement in areas at risk for fire.
“People do like to live adjacent to wild land areas and those without a doubt are more susceptible to disruption from wildfire … I think, without a doubt the avenue where we can make perhaps the most advances is in better land planning because we don’t consider the hazards of the situation nearly enough.”
Dr. Keeley was a guest on McIntyre in the Morning.
By Sandy Wells
KABC News.