Created on August 01, 2022 | 09:36
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The fire has already destroyed more than 20,000 hectares
Photo:
APA/AFP
EThe wildfires that have been burning since Friday in Northern California have become the largest wildfires in the US West Coast state since the start of this year’s fire season. More than 20,600 hectares of the Klamath National Forest had already been cleared by Sunday, according to the fire department. More than 2,000 people were asked to move to safer places. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to quickly mobilize support.
Newsome said California’s prolonged drought and heat, high winds and thunderstorms fueled the “McKinney Fire.” It destroys homes and threatens “critical infrastructure”.
The California Disaster Management Agency ordered more than 2,000 Siskiyou County residents to evacuate their homes. About 650 firefighters were mobilized Monday, including reinforcements from neighboring Oregon.
The largest fire in California to date, the “Oak Fire” near Yosemite National Park, broke out near Yosemite National Park in mid-July and spread rapidly. More than 40 buildings were destroyed and thousands of people were forced to evacuate.
The western United States, which has been suffering from a chronic drought, has seen wildfires of exceptional size and intensity in recent years. At the same time, mainly due to climate change, the fire season is getting longer. In California, this can continue for several months.
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