United States: Fires ravage California as heat hits record highs

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Heavy fires are ravaging California again and thousands of people had to flee their homes on Wednesday August 19 in the upstate. As early as Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency. The fires, which progress very quickly, are fed by strong winds, high temperatures and lightning.

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Charred vegetation, cars and homes ravaged by flames: California has already seen at least 48,000 hectares go up in smoke in recent days. "  We are currently fighting 367 hectares,  " said Gavin Newsom, the governor of California.

Thousands of people had to be evacuated in the middle of the night, in particular a few kilometers from San Francisco where two of the biggest blazes are rife listed by the authorities. In Vacaville, a town of around 100,000 inhabitants, many were woken up by their neighbors or the firefighters and fled simply in their pajamas.

An emergency helicopter crashed

Southeast of San Francisco, a rescue helicopter crashed resulting in the death of the pilot. Due to the size and complexity of the disasters, the California firefighters are at their peak and have called for backup. Nevada, Arizona and Texas have responded.

Many of these fires are believed to have been caused by lightning strikes more than 10,000 times in the past three days. The fires are reinforced by an unprecedented heat wave.

Death Valley also recorded a record temperature of over 54 ° C on Sunday. What could become the third highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

►Also read: United States: California again affected by violent fires

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United States: California again affected by violent fires