Shafts of sunlight highlight the smoke from the King Fire that burned 97,717 acres of the El Dorado National Forest in California, USA. Following an unprecedented four year long drought, wild fires are much more common. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drought classification. 428,000 acres of agricultural land have been taken out of production due to lack of water, thousands of agricultural workers have lost their jobs and one third of all children in California go to bed hungry.

usa us america california drought climate change global warming dried up wild fire bush fire king fire el dorado national forest georgetown forest tree conifer pine tree woodland destroyed destruction black blackened smoke smoking burn burning burnt devastation air pollution air quality carbon greenhouse gas particles ash habitat consequence sun sunlight aftermath shaft sun shaft pattern shape form art road