A wave of wildfires continues to burn across the western United States, including Northern California, where local homeowners are grappling with the consequences of a warming climate. Among these individuals is Ron Ward, a resident of the small forest community of Cohasset, whose family ranch was threatened by the deadly Park Fire.
Insurance companies drop coverage as wildfires increase
Just a month prior to the wildfire, Ward lost his ranch’s insurance coverage. This situation is increasingly common as insurance companies drop California homeowners due to the rising risk of wildfires in the state. These fires are in part due to hotter weather and arid conditions—effects of climate change. Despite this setback, Ward and his son Ethan took matters into their own hands, installing a fire protection system involving a water line to a pond and sprinklers. The system pump was delivered just as the fire started, proving to be a lifesaver.
The Park Fire’s advance halted
“It hit our sprinklers and kind of died down and then went around our property and missed, missed all of our structures,” Ward said. His 100-year-old ranch was saved. However, the fire reached within 70 feet (21 meters) of his house before it was stopped. Ward described the aftermath as a “moonscape,” with mailboxes and vehicles coated in pink fire retardant dropped by aircraft.
Firefighters aided by improving weather
Firefighters made progress over the weekend, aided by improving weather conditions. Despite this, further evacuations have been necessary as thousands continue to tackle the flames. Ward, who stayed behind with a few friends, had the heart-wrenching task of informing his bookkeeper and neighbors that their homes were lost.
Arrest made in connection with the Park Fire
The Park Fire, the largest wildfire in California this year and the sixth-largest in the state’s recorded history, was allegedly started by a man pushing a burning car into a gully. Ronnie Dean Stout was arrested at his home in Chico a day after the fire started. Prosecutors said Stout has a previous criminal record and could face life in prison if convicted.
Devastation by the numbers
The Park Fire has:
- Scorched more than 575 square miles (1,489 square kilometers), an area greater than the city of Los Angeles
- Destroyed over 100 structures
- Threatened 4,200 more structures
While firefighters have reached 12% containment, evacuation orders remain in effect for 25 wildfires across the country. More than 27,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to combat wildfires nationwide.
Enduring the onslaught
Despite surviving the initial fire, Ward remains vigilant. He wakes up at 5 a.m. and patrols the area for fires until nightfall in his all-terrain vehicle. “We’re just cruising around and putting out fires,” he said.
In the face of such adversity, the question of why remain in such a hazardous location arises. For Ward, the answer lies in the rich history of his family ranch. “There’s a lot of history here,” Ward said. “So we live on this ranch and we’re committed to this ranch and preserving the ranch.”
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