Wildfires in the "worst scale in history" in the western United States September 26, 19:52, when the historic observatory is approaching fire

The worst-ever wildfire in the western United States continues almost two months later, killing at least 36 people so far.

In the suburbs of Los Angeles, the damage is spreading, such as the historic observatory approaching a fire, and hard fire fighting activities are continuing in various places.

Due to dryness in the western United States, a large-scale wildfire broke out from the end of July, and the area burned to about 1.45 million hectares in California and about 400,000 hectares in neighboring Oregon.



At least 36 people have been killed in a series of wildfires so far, and some are missing and the search continues.



In California, the Mount Wilson Observatory, built in 1904 in the mountains on the outskirts of Los Angeles, is on fire.

At this observatory, astronomer Edwin Hubble observed the "Andromeda Galaxy" in the 1920s using the world's largest 100-inch reflecting telescope at the time, and it is a galaxy different from ours. In addition to discovering, it is known that it later led to evidence of the expansion of the universe.



Currently, observatory officials have been evacuated and 1,500 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire throughout the night.



Large-scale wildfires have occurred in more than 20 locations in California alone, and hard fire fighting is ongoing in each region.

Fire range nearly five times between 18th and 19th last month

Analysis of satellite data revealed that the wildfire expanded the range of California fires by nearly five times between the 18th of last month and the next day.

Experts point out that lightning strikes and strong winds associated with the passage of the front could cause a wildfire to spread until the end of next month, when similar climates continue.



NHK and experts analyzed wildfires in the western United States based on NASA data, and the range of fires in California was estimated to be about 33,000 hectares as of 18th last month. However, the next day, it was about 150,400 hectares, which was nearly five times as large as one day.

Does the range of fire expand at once by passing the front?

Furthermore, when combined with the meteorological data at that time, it was found that a front extending from a low pressure system was passing over California during the daytime on the 18th when the fire spread.



Akihiko Ito, director of the Material Cycle Modeling and Analysis Laboratory at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, who is familiar with forest ecosystems, said, "A low-pressure front passes through an area that had been hit by record high temperatures and dryness until then. Then, thunder and strong winds occurred, and forest fires may have occurred simultaneously in various places. "



On top of that, he points out that the area will continue to be hot and dry until the end of next month, so there is a possibility that a forest fire may be triggered by the passage of a front.



Regarding the series of wildfires, President Trump of the United States has expressed the idea that it is a problem of forest management, while the United Nations and meteorological experts are calling for the urgency of countermeasures because of global warming.

What was happening at that time ...

A local ABC television broadcast on the 19th of last month reports a fire about 50 kilometers away from the city of Sacramento in northern California.



According to this, from the 18th to the 19th, multiple fires spread all at once in this area, burning up the houses in the surrounding area, and the residents were forced to evacuate.



A woman who lost her house in the fire said, "The fire is heading like a wall. It was very scary."



Another woman said in a daze, "The house was set on fire in just 30 seconds. I didn't have home insurance and I lost everything."



In addition, according to media reports, there have been a series of lightning strikes in the surrounding area for several days.