Fireworks.Photo: Getty
TheFourth of Julyis approaching — and for many, the holiday is synonymous with fireworks.
But this year, scientists are warning people in Western North America to forgo their fireworks as temperatures reach record highs and vegetation becomes exceptionally dry amid an ongoing drought.
On Wednesday,more than 100 scientists from across the nation signed a letterurging folks in the northwestern United States and Canada to skip fireworks in order to avoid unintentionally sparking a wildfire.
“The July 4th weekend in the United States this year will be like no other we’ve experienced in the nation’s history,” the letter said. “The extreme heat impacting the northwestern United States and Canada this week comes on top of an already record-setting drought across much of western North America.”
“This will be critical for a safe Independence Day holiday, good practice for the rest of the fire season, and one way we can adapt to more safely live in increasingly flammable landscapes,” they finished.
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According toa study publishedin theInternational Journal of Wildland Fire, more wildfires are ignited on July 4 than any other day of the year.
Between 1992 and 2015, more than 7,000 wildfires started in the U.S. on July 4, many of which were responsible for the threatening or evacuation of residential homes,The Conversationreported, citing a study from theMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
The letter comes as cities in the western U.S. and Canadaface a severe heatwavethat has broughtrecord-breaking temperatures,dozens of heat-related deathsand more wildfires.
Temperatures at Asher College in Las Vegas.Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Seattle reached a historic high of108 degreeson Monday, according to theNational Weather Service. The British Columbia city of Lytton also set a record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada on Tuesday at 121 degrees,AccuWeatherreported.
Other all-time-high temperatures were recorded in Hermiston, Oregon, at 118 degrees while Omak, Washington, hit 117 degrees, according to AccuWeather.
The rise of wildfires has also become an issue, withCal Fire reporting thatCalifornia is experiencing a 26 percent rise in wildfire activity compared to last year and a 58 percent increase in acres burned.
The agencyalso reports that at least 14 wildfiresare currently burning across the state.
In order to prevent fireworks-related wildfires, authorities have actively been working to enforce safety tactics and legal operations.
Throughout May and June, CAL FIRE-OSFM law enforcement personnelsaid they seizednearly 80,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and issued 215 citations for dangerous fireworks.
Officers also helda press conferenceon Thursday to caution residents about the potential dangers of fireworks and to promote fireworks safety.
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Those in western North America are advised to move flammable materials (including dried leaves and needles, gas and propane containers and firewood) away from all structures and to clean out their home’s gutters, according to The Conversation.
People are also advised to mow their lawns during cooler morning hours when the grass is dewier to prevent sparks from the dry grass. Additionally, residents should avoid dropping cigarette butts on the ground and voluntarily starting campfires, the outlet reported.
source: people.com
