Raging California Wildfires
The year 2020 has been disastrous so far and with the series of environmental damage in a few countries, the concern is constantly growing in and around the world as to what is next?
Recently, the deadly California wildfires have burned over 1 million acres and there’s no end in sight as thousands of firefighters struggle to contain the blazes and more emerge. After doubling in size on Friday, the fires continued to grow moderately on Saturday. An evacuation order extended to thousands of people in the Bay Area near San Jose and warned others to be prepared to abandon their homes at short notice. The California wildfire is so raging that it can be spotted from the space.
However, California firefighters are struggling to contain massive wildfires that left at least six people dead and ruined neighborhoods and approaching weather could make things worse for exhausted crews.
Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes after wildfires destroyed nearly 700 structures in northern and central California. The concern is growing that further lightning strikes will cause more blazes. With more than 650,000 coronavirus cases, California also has the highest number of infections in the US, and some evacuees have said they are afraid to go to emergency shelters.
US President Donald Trump has declared that wildfires burning through homes and devastating precious forestry in California are a major disaster and he has released federal aid.
Forecast high winds are threatening to drive flames into more populated areas as foul air blankets the state. Over 14,000 firefighters are battling 585 fires that have now burnt nearly one million acres (400,000 hectares) as of now. Most of the destruction has been caused by three large fire complexes in mountainous and wooded rural areas.
On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said the SCU Lightning Complex fire south and east of San Francisco is the third-largest in the state’s history.
Video tweeted by the governor showed burnt tree stumps against the reddened fumes-filled sky and plumes of white smoke rising from the ash-laden ground.
At least 43 people including firefighters have been injured, and hundreds of buildings have burned down and thousands more are threatened.
“I left with my clothes… two guitars and a dog,” one evacuee in Santa Cruz told CNN affiliate KGO. Gov Newsom has requested help from as far afield as Australia and Canada. Firefighters, engines and surveillance planes raced in from US states including Oregon, New Mexico and Texas.
Although California is used to wildfire, the governor called the fires, unlike anything the state had seen before. “If you don’t believe in climate change, come to California,” he tweeted on Saturday.
US agencies have updated disaster preparedness and evacuation guidance in light of Covid-19. People who may be required to flee have been to told to carry at least two face masks per person, as well as hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectant wipes. Officials have appealed for residents to use less power or risk further cuts. Satellite images show smoke blanketing nearly all of California, as well most of Nevada and southern Idaho.
By Karishma Gwalani
