Experts fear California’s wildfire season could get worse

Despite several early fires and one of the state’s largest on record, experts fear California’s wildfire season could take a turn for the worse when the seasonal winds responsible for igniting some of the biggest fires arrive.

A CNN report published this week polls wildfire experts about the season so far and their concerns for what may lie ahead.

Related: Cal Poly Humboldt California commissioner working on public wildfire model

The report notes that the fires so far this season have occurred without the help of “warm, dry Santa Ana and Diablo wind air” blowing from the desert, over the mountains to the coast.

“These winds create highly flammable, bone-dry fuels and blow so intensely that they can turn a small flame into a massive blaze,” the news report said.

Related: California commissioner invites input on final phase of wildfire modeling rule

So far, CalFire reports 6,332 fires burning nearly 1 million acres, not far from the average of 950,000 acres burned per season. This year’s fires damaged or destroyed 1,687 structures.

However, among these numbers were some large and dangerous fires.

Related: 2.6 million homes at a cost of $1.3 trillion at moderate to very high fire risk

The Park Fire in July became the fourth largest in state history, burning 429,603 acres. It is mostly sprayed with 99% insulation.

The fire destroyed 709 properties and damaged 74.

The Bridge Fire, which spans Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, is the next largest active, but mostly contained, fire in the state. It has burned 54,878 acres and is 79 percent contained. The San Bernardino County fire has burned 39,232 acres and is 75 percent contained. The Airport Fire, also in Southern California, has burned 23,526 acres and is 88 percent contained. It destroyed 160 structures and damaged 34, according to CalFire.

As the fires burned, the state’s insurance commissioner ordered insurance relief for some homeowners.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies to maintain residential insurance coverage for 750,000 policyholders affected by the airport, bridge and line fires in Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles and San counties Bernardino.

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California disaster Natural disasters Fire