On the morning of Nov. 6, a wildfire emerged in Ventura County, causing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and seek shelter. Fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, the fire spread quickly, posing a serious threat to the area.
“Global warming is going to lead to drought in certain areas, so vegetation gets dried out. But that’s not the only facet contributing to wildfires,” said APES teacher Robyn Fewster.
In recent years, global warming has had a large impact on fueling wildfires. Higher temperatures increase the evaporation of moisture from soil and vegetation. In addition drying out trees, shrubs, and grass and transforming leaves and fallen branches fuel wildfires. This has led to more frequent wildfires and increased efforts in containing and managing these environmental crises.
“Wildfires spread faster in certain areas because of dense vegetation and steep hillsides that allow fire to climb quickly,” said Fewster.
The Ventura fire spread as strong winds rose through the region, on top of low humidity as a total of 19,904 acres were burned down, destroying homes and displacing thousands of residents.
“Currently, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and financial assistance to many of the affected households,” said Red Cross officer Kay Kameh (‘26).
Through these efforts, the organization ensured residents’ access to necessary resources as they faced the difficulties of temporary displacement. Furthermore, nearby animal evacuation centers took action by taking in displaced animals, providing them with shelter and care.
“There should be more precautions taken to prevent wildfires. Such as creating plans to save our environment and stop dumping our trash into nature,” said Nashey Abdul (‘26).
