Letter to the Editor: Two-fold reasons for the fires

Last weekend felt like hell on Earth. With air quality above 500 on Saturday, 9/12, my husband and I wore N95 masks in the house. And yet I know I’m one of the lucky ones. My house hasn’t burned, I have not been evacuated or run from fire, and none of my loved ones, pets included, have burned to death.

Yet I cannot see my glass half-full when thousands of people are suffering immensely from these apocalyptic fires. I suffer for them. And though I am well aware that our forests desperately need clearing in order to subdue these fires, I am also aware that a warming Earth in conjunction with worsening drought, has succeeded in making these fires as evil as they have become. And according to scientists they will most certainly get worse.

Now is the time, like never before, for climate believers and deniers to find common ground. These fires are two-fold, involving both overgrown, fire-prone forests and a warming climate. We need to approach this life threatening danger together in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis. Love for one another can conquer evil. Let’s give it a try.

Robbin Anderson

Portola, CA