Scientists say Texas could have a bigger wildfire problem this year as drought conditions persist.
Hotter temperatures and drier conditions are lengthening the fire season, leading to larger, more frequent wildfires.
Dr. Max Morris, head of the Morris Fire Lab at the University of California Berkeley, says that it may be time to rethink development in fire-prone areas.
“It’s really an issue of where and how we’re developing our communities, and thinking about fire in a light that’s more similar to other natural hazards, like floods or earthquakes," Morris says. "Historically, we haven’t thought about fire in that light."
Morris adds that climate change brings an extra layer of complexity and uncertainty to fire prediction, because different regions can experience different effects.
