In all, Gov. Gavin Newsom said firefighters are battling 367 known wildfires across California, including 23 that are considered major fires.
Thousands of people were told to evacuate in regions around the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday as wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering heat wave now in its second week. Smoke blanketed San Francisco.
Newsom declared a statewide emergency Tuesday, saying the blazes were “exacerbated by the effects of the historic West Coast heat wave and sustained high winds.” Much of California is enduring a sweltering late summer heat wave that has broken several record highs in recent days, including a 130-degree reading Sunday in Death Valley, Weather.com said. The hot, dry conditions are expected to continue at least into the weekend.The extreme heat was being generated by a strong ridge of high pressure over the western U.S., which also produced an onslaught of thunderstorms and lightning that ignited many of the wildfires burning in California.
One of the major consequences of the heat wave over the past several days has been the threat of temporary power outages, also known as rolling blackouts, to conserve electricity usage along the state's power grid. In Northern California, police and firefighters went door-to-door before dawn Wednesday in a frantic scramble to warn residents to evacuate as fire encroached on Vacaville, a city of about 100,000 that lies between San Francisco and Sacramento. Fire officials said at least 50 structures were destroyed and 50 were damaged and that four people were injured.
The blaze burning near Vacaville was dubbed the Hennessey Fire, but there so many fires burning in the area that firefighters have put them all under one incident – the LNU Lightning Complex – for reporting purposes, Weather.com said. In all, those fires have burned more than 71 square miles of land in Napa and Sonoma counties.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
'Lightning siege' sparks wildfires across California wine countryLightning strikes sparked dozens of wildfires in Northern California's wine country on Wednesday, burning dozens of structures and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Weiterlesen »
New wildfires started by lightning in West amid historic heatwave, Tropics turn active with 3 new systemsWEATHER: More wildfires have exploded in the West, particularly in California, due to numerous lightning strikes.
Weiterlesen »
San Francisco blanketed in smoke as California fires rageSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of people were under orders to evacuate in regions surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area Wednesday as some 30 wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering...
Weiterlesen »
California wildfires: People flee as blaze approaches Vacaville areaWildfires were racing toward populated areas of Northern California's wine country early Wednesday, sending people fleeing in the dark, authorities said.
Weiterlesen »
California Sees 10,849 Lightning Strikes In 72 Hours As Wildfires RageCalifornia saw 10,849 lightning strikes in the last 72 hours, as wildfires rage by rachsandl
Weiterlesen »
Fire forces evacuations in Vacaville, California, as over 32,000 acres burnEvacuations are in place for swaths of Vacaville, California, as the LNU Lightning Complex wildfires continue to burn through more than 32,000 acres.
Weiterlesen »