United States: California devastated by deadly fires

For several days, California has been plagued by forest fires. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP

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California is once again devastated by hundreds of forest fires, already 5 dead and 120,000 people evacuated. 500 homes were destroyed, 300,000 acres gone up in smoke, an area the size of Rhode Island, 12,000 firefighters were deployed.

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From our correspondent in San Francisco, Eric de Salve

California has mobilized all its means but it is insufficient according to its democratic governor Gavin Newsom. These fires are still out of control in northern California, particularly around San Francisco Bay, in the smoke.

Out of control fires

The fumes extend to Nebraska, more than 2,000 km from the Californian coast. The ashes fall like flakes on San Francisco surrounded by these gigantic fires. In firefighter memory it's unheard of. More than 560 fires are counted, all out of control. The most important has even quadrupled in volume in the last 24 hours.

Three bodies were found in a charred house. And a water bomber helicopter pilot died in the crash of his plane. The fire even entered a redwood reserve burning 1,400-year-old trees. The Californian firefighters have mobilized their entire workforce but "  that's not enough  ", warns the Democratic governor who is awaiting help from neighboring states.

An unusual climatic phenomenon

Donald Trump has already answered him by accusing California of not cleaning up its forests enough. These fires were triggered by an unusual climatic phenomenon, a seat of lightning favored according to the authorities by global warming.

At the start of the week, lightning struck the soil dried up by the heatwave 11,000 times. 120,000 inhabitants were evacuated in the midst of the pandemic. Many prefer to avoid shelters for fear of contracting the coronavirus there and sleep in their cars.

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  • United States
  • Environment
  • Natural disasters

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