Scientists explain the factors that caused the Oak Fire to explode
![Scientists explain the factors that caused the Oak Fire to explode](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/oak-fire-yosemite-04-pol-llr-220726_1658865969619_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg)
A bone-dry environment combined with scorching temperatures and ample fuel is what allowed the Oak Fire to spread so rapidly from the moment of ignition.
The wildfire is the second to threaten Yosemite National Park this summer.
The Oak Fire burned over 15,000 acres within two days of it sparking near Yosemite National Park. Scientists explain factors that contributed to its rapid spread.
![](https://californialocal.com/static/media/_versions/tahoe-truckee/articles/3121-wildfires-climate-change-explained_medium.jpg)
The Oak Fire: How Climate Change Fuels the Most Explosive
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220725221805-03-oak-fire-mariposa-county-2522.jpg?c=original)
California's Oak Fire destroys at least 42 structures as it burns
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220725031854-04-california-oak-fire-072522.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
California Oak Fire: Rapidly-growing fire engulfs homes near
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Lightning_damage.jpg/220px-Lightning_damage.jpg)
Exploding tree - Wikipedia
![](https://media.wired.com/photos/6262d68198240707225d132e/master/pass/prescribedfire_science_DSC_0450.jpg)
How Prescribed Burns Can Help Restore Eastern US Forests
![](https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/images/2023-04/figure-3achristinaclemmonsodf.jpg?itok=wTDP_XEq)
Prescribed Fire Basics: Fuels
![](https://www.science.org/do/10.1126/science.adk3291/full/_20230818_nf_lindseydunn-1692378263917.jpg)
Raging wildfires may have doomed California's ancient megamammals
![](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0f00bef/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6048x4024+0+0/resize/1486x989!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fb2%2F23f95127453582df944f82192751%2Fcalifornia-wildfires-40025.jpg)
Oak fire in Mariposa County explodes to 4,350 acres - Los Angeles
![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/08/02/opinion/01hanson-inyt/merlin_210563193_99b8a802-657b-46f2-bf8c-f96125ef0fa6-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg?year=2022&h=1688&w=3000&s=4f2793b6591717bfef838cc8e16da520aca25b83fd0bb614ee429965407ab122&k=ZQJBKqZ0VN&tw=1)
Opinion The Case Against Commercial Logging in Wildfire-Prone
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oB9V95yiZ6Y/maxresdefault.jpg)
California's Oak Fire: What, where and why?
![](https://blog.ametsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SJSU-Canyon-fire.png)
In the Field: Understanding Canyon Fires – The Front Page
![](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/58c966a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x2990+0+0/resize/1200x748!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fe9%2Faf9f3ea94d5196c5bc4b639d02d2%2F1163720-la-me-oak-fire014-ls.jpg)
Militia presence at massive Oak Fire sparks concern - Los Angeles
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220724061307-oak-fire-mariposa-county-california-firefighter.jpg?c=original)
California's Oak Fire destroys at least 42 structures as it burns
![](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-07-24T000000Z_1543319703_RC23IV9X3B7M_RTRMADP_3_CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)
California's Oak Fire: What, where and why?