Thousands of residents had to evacuate their homes as a series of uncontained wildfires continue to rage in northern California in the US. Two people are missing, 33 civilians and firefighters have been injured and at least five people have died, according to AP News.
The fires are believed to have been sparked by ‘an unprecedented lightning siege.’ Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, ordering the release of emergency funds.
California is prime wine country and the fires are causing extensive damage to local vineyards, even consuming irrigated vines on one property.
‘I don’t think I’ve seen that before,’ Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA told The Guardian. ‘Normally, the irrigation lines would break the flames – that they didn’t, speaks to how dry the landscape is,’ Swain said.
Over 10,000 firefighters are working to contain the fires, with some battling to keep up with 72-hour shifts instead of the usual 24 hours. Authorities have requested help from other states, The Guardian reports.
California’s governor declared an emergency over wildfires, many sparked by record heat and extreme lightning storms.
On Tuesday, 6,000 lightning strikes ignited 200+ fires in northern CA alone.
At least 30 fires are raging statewide; fire crews are “stretched thin.” pic.twitter.com/SMyjYK3514
— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 19, 2020
California Police Relieved That Devastating Wildfires Forcing Families Out Of Homes For Them https://t.co/XRfW1EZsEQ pic.twitter.com/zYOcw7Rghd
— The Onion (@TheOnion) August 20, 2020
California has been hit by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours, a “historic lightning siege” that has produced more than 367 new wildfires.
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency. pic.twitter.com/jH8OI3R4nn
— UberFacts (@UberFacts) August 19, 2020
California’s biggest wildfires are in 3 “Lightning Complex” clusters. Many were sparked by lightning storms, themselves stoked by record heat:
▪️ LNU: Napa/Sonoma/Solano (46,000 acres)
▪️ SCU: Santa Clara (85,000 acres)
▪️ CZU August: San Mateo/Santa Clara (10,000 acres) pic.twitter.com/Ps7C85oIUW— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 19, 2020
Areas around San Francisco evacuated as nearly 40 wildfires blaze across California amidst searing heat wave https://t.co/jdWmTMQHt2 pic.twitter.com/i1cp5RokQ3
— Jeffrey Levin (@jilevin) August 19, 2020
Haven’t been here much today, my business in CA is surrounded by fire and many of my friends have evacuated. I don’t know about you guys but I could use some good news for a change! Stay positive!! #CaliforniaWildfires pic.twitter.com/ENCq3x12ke
— Carolyn Sames (@SamesCarolyn) August 20, 2020
Image credit: Twitter/SamesCarolyn
