12 Million Trees Killed By Drought Could Fuel Extreme California Fire Season, U.S. Forest Service Says

Sean Breslin
Published: May 6,2015



 

As the worst months of a yearlong wildfire season draw near in California, there's more bad news facing firefighters.
The U.S. Forest Service recently announced that some 12 million trees have been killed by the state's long-term drought, providing additional fuel for what could be a disastrous wildfire season. Many of those trees are in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where snowpack is so thin the state is no longer performing scheduled surveys, according to the Los Angeles Times.
And there's another factor at play here: Millions of bark beetles have descended on the parched area to feast on the trees, CBS San Francisco reported. Cal Fire estimates these tiny pests have killed about 800,000 acres of trees on their own in the last year alone, the report added.
(MORE: Desalination May Be the Only Option To Fight Water Shortage)
"We have a forest that is really suffering right now," tree removal expert Noah Whitney told CBS San Francisco. "You’re not just talking about a handful of trees. You’re talking about thousands and thousands of acres of trees."
The Forest Service also said it's concerned the dead trees could pose an immediate threat to the public, as falling limbs or entire tree trunks could become more likely, ABC30.com reported.
With the water supply remaining a concern until the drought is broken, Gov. Jerry Brown announced more mandates Tuesday to curtail water usage in the Golden State. This includes a 25 percent reduction in water use inside urban areas, punishable by fines if the conservation standards aren't met, according to NBC L.A. This will likely mean more thirsty lawns, but more water in the reserves in case the upcoming fire season is a doozy.
MORE: California's Long-Term Drought