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Rev Kat Carroll
Friday morning, I stepped outside to greet the morning sun but was surprised to be greeted with the smell of smoke. Not another fire I prayed. I decided to look at recent reports.
North America and Canada continue to battle major fire activity, with over 900 active fires and 3.7 million hectares burned this year, causing cross-border smoke issues for the United States. Many who attend our bimonthly Ascension Connection calls lived through some of the worse air quality they can remember, and even friends in Michigan were reporting the smoke, haze and poor air quality.
The 2025 Canadian wildfire season resulted in approximately 21.7 million acres (8.815 million hectares) of land burned, making it the second-worst season on record. It was bad enough to deploy US firefighters to assist through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). More than 2,000 U.S. wildland firefighters and support personnel were mobilized to assist Canadian provinces during the 2026 fire season. Here is an interesting report from Factually about aid sent:
https://factually.co/fact-checks/environment/is-usa-sending-aid-to-canada-for-wildfires-2a41ce
Europe is also experiencing a severe wildfire crisis driven by extreme heat and drought, and over 360,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes due to raging wildfires.
France, Spain, Greece, and the UK have been among the hardest-hit regions.
In southwestern France, a massive megafire west of Bordeaux has burned over 160,000 hectares and forced nearly 224,000 evacuations, though many residents are now being allowed to return as hot spots stabilize.
It seems that much of the world is having issues with fires. Even in my home state of California, there are currently 44 named active wildfires, with an additional 26 fires that have been fully contained. I was curious about spontaneous combustion and did a bit of research:
Dry grass typically requires an ignition temperature of 300°C (572°F) or higher to combust spontaneously, though it can ignite in seconds upon contact with surfaces reaching 500°F (260°C), such as catalytic converters, faulty PG&E transmission lines and smart meters which were linked to some of the Paradise fires in California in November of 2018.
Despite official findings, there are documented lawsuits and firefighter testimonies alleging SmartMeters were the ignition source.
Lightening strikes often play a part in ignition, but human activities have been cited as the cause of many California wildfires in 2026, responsible for approximately 85% that include:
- Power line failures and electrical equipment malfunctions.
- Unattended campfires, debris burning, tossed cigarette butts and outdoor equipment use.
- Vehicles, including sparks from cars, trucks, or hot catalytic converters.
- Arson and careless use of fireworks, explosives and even lasers.
- Target shooting and other recreational activities. (I had to look this one up for myself!)
The Sun also plays a critical role in wildfires primarily by drying and preheating vegetation, making it highly flammable, though it rarely ignites fires directly.
Conspiracy theories and non-peer-reviewed claims assert that atmospheric manipulation (geoengineering or chem-trails) using desiccants like aluminum, barium, and strontium intentionally dries vegetation to ignite or intensify wildfires.
I recently learned of an even stranger possible cause for the number of wild fires around the world: Astrological Alignments.
As of late July 2026, the astrological climate is dominated by a rare and potent concentration of energy in Fire and Air signs, creating a “dry, windy” energetic environment that astrologers associate with rapid fire spread and sudden ignition.
Of course, the usual Independence Day fireworks displays and public use of them played its part in starting fires; at least in those cities where they were allowed. Many cities, especially in heat waves and draughts are now banning their use except for professional public displays.
This year, California experienced a significant number of fires linked to Fourth of July celebrations. Statewide, more than 700 fires were related to fireworks in the previous year (2025), causing nearly $16 million in property damage. In the current year (2026), Cal Fire had already responded to over a dozen wildfires sparked by fireworks in its jurisdiction as of early July.
Additionally, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that 124 new wildfires erupted across the country over the Fourth of July weekend, with local officials in California and other Western states pointing to holiday fireworks as a major factor. In Contra Costa County alone, illegal fireworks sparked at least 100 fires during the 2025 holiday.
Fireworks are the nation’s way of remembering the wars that set us free 250 years ago. Do we really need the reminder of explosions and fire every year? Is there a brighter solution?
Drone displays are becoming a quiet and safe way to enjoy aerial displays that are becoming increasingly complex and beautiful to watch. Pets and their owners certainly appreciate the quiet!
Spiritual considerations
Fire acts as a purifier. Perhaps these last few years have acted as a crucible, to burn away what is no longer needed. Failing power grids, failing banking and medical systems…. Even parts of government and NGOs have been burned away through exposure of corruption and fraud. While costly at first, the way is being cleared for something better to be installed, on many fronts.
Replacing the Grid
Change takes time. However, new energy systems are being deployed across America through major federal investments and public-private partnerships designed to lower costs for we, the consumers.
The new energy systems being deployed are specifically designed to be less prone to starting fires than the aging infrastructure they replace or supplement. A primary driver of the Department of Energy’s grid modernization funding is wildfire mitigation, with approximately one-quarter of the $3.46 billion in Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) funds dedicated to preventing utility-ignited fires.
And while the thought of Data Centers has many communities concerned about loss of water through cooling systems, there is a ray of hope. Newer or retrofitted facilities are to use liquid cooling or dry coolers, and water is recirculated. This results in:
- Near-Zero Loss: The water (or coolant) flows through sealed pipes and heat exchangers without ever touching the outside air. Because there is no evaporation, the same water is used repeatedly for years.
- Minimal Reclamation: These systems only require small “top offs” occasionally to replace minor leaks. They do not generate significant wastewater streams for reclamation centers, effectively operating as a self-contained loop.
- Legal Protections: These legally binding contracts can mandate specific caps on daily water use, noise limits, and independent air/water monitoring.
- Financial Reciprocity: CBAs often require developers to fund local projects, such as workforce training, affordable housing, or environmental remediation. For example, proposed legislation in Pennsylvania would require a monetary payment of at least 10% of the total project cost to a community fund controlled by residents.
- Enforcement: Effective CBAs include “clawback” provisions and financial penalties if the operator fails to meet environmental or employment commitments.
And we still haven’t heard about the new technologies being considered, and only a bit about those being implemented.
New fusion Energy for Data Centers
The fusion energy sector is rapidly evolving with companies like Helion Energy and Zap Energy leading the charge (please forgive the pun).
Helion Energy is building a fusion power plant in Chelan County, Washington with the goal of producing electricity for Microsoft data centers by 2028. This project is expected to be the world’s first commercial fusion power plant, producing at least 50 megawatts of electricity. The company has raised $1 billion for the project and is focused on preparing fusion technology for commercialization and getting electrons on the grid.
Zap Energy, on the other hand, is taking a more cautious approach, integrating nuclear fission into its fusion strategy as a near-term revenue source and a hedge on its fusion bet. This approach aims to move faster, reduce risk, and build a more enduring company.
Both companies may be the answer to very old and ailing grid systems. They are part of a global group of entrepreneurs working to harness the power of fusion to create a “star in a jar” on Earth with nearly limitless clean energy for all.
Bright Ideas That Illuminated the World
It’s interesting to consider, that back in 1879, Edison patented the light bulb, while Tesla made significant contributions to electrical lighting technology. Together, they lit up homes, businesses, streets and boats, bringing light to the world. Nearly 140 years ago Tesla gave us alternating current (AC) electricity, that could be transmitted over much greater distances than direct current. He and Edison had a rivalry, competing over which was better, AC or DC in the late 1800s. This became known as the War of the Currents.
In the end, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla secured decisive wins by lighting the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and winning the contract to build hydroelectric generators at Niagara Falls. The 1896 transmission of power from Niagara Falls to Buffalo, New York, marked the unofficial end of the conflict.
History reminds us that transformative technologies often face resistance—not simply because they challenge accepted science, but because they challenge established economic systems. Every major transition creates winners and losers, and existing institutions naturally seek to preserve the structures on which they were built.
The next few years could bring about greater changes than what we’ve experienced over the past 180 years of technological advancements. Nearly 140 years later, Tesla’s dream of abundant, freely accessible
energy for all continues to inspire scientists and engineers around the world. Whether that vision is ultimately realized through fusion, wireless power transmission, or technologies yet to emerge remains to be seen.
Long before physicists began discussing concepts such as zero-point energy, Tesla envisioned tapping into the vast energies of nature in ways that were far beyond the technologies of his day. He was always thinking beyond the limits of his own era, envisioning possibilities that many considered impossible. And many of his musings did come to fruition, while others are tied up in patents for the sake of National Security, (or so “they” say.)
It’s my hope that nuclear and fusion energy are just a bridge as we move from fossil fuels toward cleaner and more abundant sources of energy.
Every generation inherits the discoveries of those who dared to imagine a different future, and in doing so, rekindles the curiosity that drives the next generation of innovators.
Our greatest breakthroughs still lie ahead—not only in the technologies we create, but in the wisdom with which we choose to use them. Perhaps the greatest illumination isn’t found in the sparks that ignite our fields, but in the bright ideas that spark our imagination.
The world needs more brilliant idealists!
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