Thousands are being evacuated near Los Angeles as wildfires destroy homes

- Advertisement -

SANTA PAULA, California — Officials urged over 10,000 people to evacuate towns northwest of Los Angeles as fierce seasonal winds pushed a wildfire down tinder-dry slopes, destroying ranches and homes.

Firefighters and police evacuated families from Camarillo neighborhoods before houses were set on fire by embers blown two miles (3.2 kilometers) from the fire front, Ventura County Fire Department Captain Tony McHale said by phone from the scene.

- Advertisement -

“It’s like trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun,” McHale said of the fire, which started in a hillside canyon on Wednesday and spread westward, fueled by Santa Ana winds.

The fire, which was fueled by lush grass and scrub and with wind gusts of up to 80 mph (130 kph), has scorched over 14,500 acres (5,900 hectares), according to authorities.

According to climate experts, rising temperatures have resulted in wet winters, which allowed California’s coastal chaparral — small trees, shrubs, and bushes — to grow. This summer’s record-high temperatures have turned slopes into unlit bonfires.

Several citizens suffered injuries and numerous homes, businesses, and other structures were destroyed, according to McHale, who added that entering the vicinity to assess damage proved to be dangerous.

- Advertisement -

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the fire threatened 3,500 structures.

According to Ventura County’s Office of Education, schools will be closed through Friday as a result of the flames.

The fire grew in magnitude on Wednesday after high winds collided with extremely dry air.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Southern California Edison started to cut off power to customers in regions where its equipment was thought to be in high danger of causing a wildfire.

- Advertisement -

According to National Interagency Fire Center data, the United States is having a good wildfire year, with 8.1 million acres burned to date, compared to a 10-year normal of roughly seven million acres.

As shown by Cal Fire data, wildfires in California have burned more than three times as much land this year than they did last year at this time when the state’s fire season was less severe.

- Advertisement -

Latest

Typhoon Marce Leaves 300 Homes Damaged in Region 1, Thousands Affected

Typhoon Marce has caused widespread damage in Region 1,...

Mother Missing After Family Swept Away in Abra River, Search Efforts Continue

A search and rescue operation is underway for a...

Car Rushing Patient to Hospital Crashes into Motorcycle, Three Injured

Three people were injured after a car collided with...

Tropical Depression Nika Forms East of Luzon; Wind Signals Raised in Catanduanes

The low-pressure area (LPA) east of southeastern Luzon has...

Two New Laws Bolster PH Rights Over West Philippine Sea

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has praised President Ferdinand...

Newsletter

Guo insists on dismissing perjury and falsification accusations

FORMER Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo's camp is demanding that the National Bureau of Investigation eliminate the perjury and falsification concerns filed against her...

Donald Trump Declares Victory in 2024 US Presidential Election

Former US President Donald Trump has declared himself the winner of the 2024 US presidential election, addressing his supporters in Florida. Trump announced that Americans...

Lapid Bats for Pampanga’s Official Recognition as PH Culinary Capital

Senator Lito Lapid took to the Senate floor on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, to express his support for Senate Bill No. 2806, which aims...