FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2021, file photo, an empty irrigation canal lines a tree farm in Corrales, N.M., as snow covers the Sandia Mountains in the background. Rainstorms grew more erratic and droughts much longer across most of the U.S. West over the past half-century as climate change warmed the planet, according to a sweeping government study released, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, that concludes the situation in the region is worsening.
Susan Montoya Bryan / AP Photo/File
Susan Montoya Bryan / AP Photo/File
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2021, file photo, an empty irrigation canal lines a tree farm in Corrales, N.M., as snow covers the Sandia Mountains in the background. Rainstorms grew more erratic and droughts much longer across most of the U.S. West over the past half-century as climate change warmed the planet, according to a sweeping government study released, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, that concludes the situation in the region is worsening.
Aired; November 7th, 2024.
Temperatures are unseasonably mild for November and along with that comes a lack of rainfall and drought watch for over 30 Pennsylvania counties. The dry conditions have also increased the risk of wildfire, with more than 100 reported statewide in the last several days.
Mike Kern, Chief of Division of Forest Fire Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources says the wildfires have not been following those dry areas.
“So, the wildfires, not surprisingly, have been following those dry areas, the areas of drought especially. There’s been a concentration in the southwest and also along the southern tier, but in the southeastern part of the state and then even up towards the Poconos.”
As a result, the agencies have resulted in banning campfires in state parks and forests. Kern says the fires in Pennsylvania are being caused by people.
“that’s usually either burning at your home or using fire or some other manner campfires or wine. That’s those are usually some of the biggest causes. There are some miscellaneous causes of fire, anything from power lines and high wind to equipment use and sparks and fireworks and a lot of that stuff. But burning by humans is a main cause of fires in Pennsylvania. So, we’re just. Looking to stop campfires is a way to ensure that we don’t have any, you know, anything that’s abandoned or not put out. Right. And we’re asking people not to not to burn until we get some significant rainfall at this point.”
The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections.
