According to the National Interagency Fire Center’s Drought Monitor, as of July 8th, 2022, 56 “large” wildfires are currently affecting some 2.7 million acres in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The agency estimates that more than 1,520,000 people live within 10 miles of an active, large wildfire.
Rising temperatures, drought conditions, and dry vegetation are all major contributors to wildfires with possible ignition sources including lightning strikes, unattended campfires, and other man-made causes. In fact, 90% of wildfires are caused by human impact.
Unfortunately, one of the leading contributors to the problem is electric transmission and distribution equipment, which are responsible for close to 150,000 acres lost to wildfires, twice as much as any other cause. Even more jarring is that two of the three most devastating wildfires in American history were caused by power lines.
