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cover of episode The Southeastern U.S. faces a future with more wildfires

The Southeastern U.S. faces a future with more wildfires

2025/3/27
logo of podcast Consider This from NPR

Consider This from NPR
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J
Jeremy Knighton
R
Rob Scheller
Z
Zach O'Donnell
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Zach O'Donnell：我注意到美国东南部地区的野火数量逐年增加，这已经成为一个日益严重的问题。最近北卡罗来纳州的一场大火被列为美国最高优先级火灾，其火势之猛烈前所未有，火焰高度超过以往任何时候。这凸显出该地区野火风险的严峻性。 我通常的工作是教育土地所有者进行防火，并进行控制性焚烧以降低大型火灾的风险。然而，目前的情况是，我们不得不投入更多精力来应对活跃的火灾。 Jeremy Knighton：六个月前，飓风海伦袭击了北卡罗来纳州阿什维尔等山区森林地区，造成大量树木倒伏。如今，干燥的春季和强风使得这些倒下的树木和植被成为易燃物，引发了多起野火，过火面积达数千英亩。这些野火给已经遭受飓风重创的社区带来了新的灾难，我们损失了房屋，人们都处于高度紧张的状态。 我们需要一个全社区的应对方法，因为我们无法独自应对这场危机。及早准备比事后补救更有效。 Rob Scheller：东南部的野火风险很高，非常严重，我们需要采取预防措施。这与干燥的春季以及飓风海伦造成的巨大燃料负荷有关。飓风海伦损坏了超过80万英亩的森林，造成大量树木死亡和枝干倒伏，这些都成为易燃物。 此外，该地区人口的快速增长也加剧了野火风险。城市与野地交界处的扩张意味着更多的人居住在靠近植被的地方，增加了意外引发火灾的可能性。气候变化也加剧了风险，气温升高使燃料干燥速度加快，降水变化无常导致季节性干旱增多。 为了减轻风险，我们需要减少地面燃料，进行植被管理，改变房屋建造方式，提高公众意识，并制定周全的疏散计划。人们需要了解潜在的火灾风险，并提前准备好疏散路线和重要物品，避免在紧急情况下延误时间造成人员伤亡。

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Chapters
Wildfires, typically associated with the Western US, are increasingly impacting the Southeast. Experts note a rise in fire frequency and intensity, particularly in areas like Western North Carolina, fueled by factors such as Hurricane Helene's aftermath and a dry spring. The situation is critical enough that one fire has been declared the highest priority in the US.
  • Increased wildfire activity in Southeastern US
  • One fire declared highest priority in the US
  • Impact of Hurricane Helene and dry conditions

Shownotes Transcript

Six months ago, Southern Appalachia was devastated by Hurricane Helene.Now, after a dry spell and a windy March — the region faces wildfires that are feeding on the downed trees and vegetation that the hurricane knocked to the forest floor.The North Carolina Forest Service has declared one of them "the highest priority fire in the U.S."And due to climate change and population growth, the Carolinas must anticipate a future with more fire danger.Experts and first responders explain the current situation — and the way forward.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org).Email us at [email protected]).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)