Ravaged by fires, the American west awaits better weather

California firefighters battle the Creek Fire, September 11, 2020. -

Hellish conditions are improving over the American West.

More than 20,000 firefighters were battling the flames ravaging the western United States on Friday, where rescue services were counting on cooler and wetter weather to offer them a little respite this weekend.

Fueled for days by chronic drought and high winds, the fires spread from the border of Canada to that of Mexico set sad records.

A total of sixteen victims were recorded this week but it was impossible to assess the real extent of the destruction, large areas still being inaccessible.

"We expect that the number (of dead) may increase as we return to areas ravaged by flames," warned California Governor Gavin Newsom after surrendering in the smoldering remains of a charred forest in the north of the state.

300,000 hectares burned north of San Francisco

It was there, in Butte County, still traumatized by the memory of the November 2018 fires that left 86 people dead and burned the town of Paradise to ashes, that at least ten people perished in the flames this week, according to the latest relief report.

In northwestern California, the fire dubbed "August Complex Fire", an assembly of 37 fires that affected the Mendocino Forest from August 17, officially became the largest in history in this state, with over 300,000 hectares burned.

These fires were favored by high temperatures and a very dry atmosphere but Governor Newsom welcomed the weather "starting to cooperate", with a drop in the wind and some precipitation expected in the days to come.

500,000 inhabitants affected by evacuations

Two other people were killed in another fire that has ravaged for days an isolated area near Oregon, further north, a spokeswoman for the California fire department told AFP.

In Oregon, too, officials were hopeful for better weather.

"We expect fresher air and humidity in the days to come, which is really good news," said Governor Kate Brown, giving details of the evacuations underway in her state.

If the areas threatened by the dozens of current fires concern well 500,000 inhabitants in total, a little more than 40,000 people had actually been evacuated Friday at midday, said Kate Brown.

Depending on the degree of danger, evacuation instructions range from the preparation of essential goods and documents to immediate departure.

In total, more than 400,000 hectares were covered by the flames in Oregon, where three dead were recorded by the emergency services, who have not heard from dozens of other people.

• World