Valley Fire, climate change
Expect more victims from catastrophic fires
Re “Recovery on Cobb Mountain” (Page 1A, Feb.14): This is a story of real-life victims of the Valley Fire. Scientists have told us that one of the consequences of climate change is more frequent and intense wildfires. It is one thing to discuss wildfires abstractly; it is another to portray them in terms of a single family. David and Cindy Leonard have lost their home and their possessions.
They are relatively fortunate, being in their 40s. They may have the financial and psychological resources to rebuild. Yet of those 1,280 homes lost to the Valley Fire, how many belonged to retired seniors who will have neither the funds nor the energy to rebuild? How many will live with PTSD-like symptoms and elevated risks for heart attacks and strokes? Unrestrained climate change means many more such victims.
Harold Ferber, Elk Grove
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This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Valley Fire, climate change."