Just a month into the budget year, the state has already spent more than one-quarter of its annual fire budget, at least US$125 million, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Mike Mohler said on Wednesday.
Following years of drought and a summer of record-breaking heat, immense tracts of forests, chaparral and grasslands have become tinder that allows even a small spark to explode into a devouring blaze, authorities said.
“We’re being surprised. Every year is teaching the fire authorities new lessons,” Californian Governor Jerry Brown said at a news conference. “We’re in uncharted territory.”
More than 13,000 firefighters are battling fires with the help of crews from as far away as Florida, but Brown repeated predictions from fire officials that California can expect a future of devastating fires, in part because of the changing climate.
“People are doing everything they can, but nature is very powerful and we’re not on the side of nature,” Brown said.
The largest blaze burned in the Redding area, in Shasta County north of Sacramento. Six people, including two firefighters, have died and the fire has destroyed 1,058 homes and nearly 500 other buildings, state fire officials said.
Tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders.
The fire, which is nearly twice the size of Sacramento, was only 35 percent contained after more than a week.
“Unstable conditions, shifting winds, steep terrain and dry fuels continue to challenge firefighters,” a state fire update warned, noting that 56.3kph wind gusts were expected on ridge tops that could whip up the flames.
Meanwhile, at least three new fires erupted in the Sierra Nevada region, including a blaze in Placer County that had consumed 4km2 of land.
North and east of San Francisco, two wildfires that began on Tuesday near the communities of Covelo and Yuba City continued to burn through grass, brush and timberlands. The fire near Covelo prompted evacuation orders for about 60 homes in the farming and ranching area on the edge of the Mendocino National Forest.
Twin fires also burned in Mendocino and Lake counties. They burned 14 homes and threatened 12,000 more.
A 259km2 fire near Yosemite National Park prompted evacuation orders for the community of Wawona inside the park, which has fewer than 200 residents. Yosemite Valley and other areas of the park have been closed to tourists since July 25.
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