Blaze will be harmful long after the embers die.

We have a choice now!

The LA Blaze Will Be Harmful Long After the Embers Die — David Fickling Bloomberg

This article struck a chord with me. It reminded me of a metaphor my senior colleague at the bank often used: “A forest fire seems distant-until it engulfs you. What feels like someone else’s problem can quickly become your own.” He used it to describe banking risks, but today, the metaphor feels alarmingly real.

The devastating LA wildfire is a stark reminder of the cascading impacts we face not just in the moment but for years to come. Here’s why:

1. Air Quality Wildfires release immense quantities of smoke and fine particulate matter. These pollutants can linger for weeks or even months, causing respiratory problems and increasing the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other chronic health conditions.
2. Environmental Damage The destruction of vegetation and habitats disrupts ecosystems, displaces wildlife, and leaves the land vulnerable to soil erosion and flooding. Recovery can take decades if it happens at all.
3. Economic Impact Entire communities face devastating financial losses. The destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure brings soaring rebuilding costs and lost livelihoods. Tourism-dependent regions suffer long-term revenue declines.
4. Psychological Trauma For those who have lost their homes or witnessed the destruction firsthand, the emotional toll can be immense. Anxiety, depression, and PTSD are common among wildfire survivors, compounding the tragedy.
5. Climate Change Wildfires release massive amounts of greenhouse gases, accelerating global warming. At the same time, the loss of forests reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, intensifying the climate crisis.
6. Increased Fire Risk Ironically, the aftermath of a wildfire often sets the stage for future fires. Dead trees, eroded soil, and vegetation loss make the land even more susceptible.

How long will we stay in denial-ostrich-like, burying our heads in the sand (yet another metaphor)-about the escalating threats of climate change? Each ignored warning magnifies the risks we face.

Future generations will not forgive us.

Like the forest fire metaphor, the threat of climate change is no longer distant. It’s here, at our doorstep, demanding urgent action.

The blaze may fade from the headlines, but its impacts will haunt us long after the embers die out.

P.S.: Check out the statistics the author shares in the article; scary, to say the least! https://pressreader.com/article/282368340300764

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.