A large forest fire has spread in the state of Oregon in the western United States, where several fires are burning, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents, according to local authorities.
The Cedar Creek Fire has destroyed 35,000 hectares of land as it spread to two counties in central Oregon east of Eugene, according to the National Bushfire Coordination Group.
Third level of depopulation
The fire threatens more than 2,000 homes and 400 commercial buildings. The authorities activated the third level of their evacuation plan in certain areas a few days ago, which means that the danger in these places is imminent and must be evacuated immediately.
Hundreds of residents received orders to vacate their homes and thousands more were told by the authorities to prepare to evict if necessary.
The National Forest Fire Coordination Group confirmed that thick smoke enveloped the area, affecting air quality.
“I want to leave as soon as possible,” Hermann Schimmel, who recently moved to the area, told the Oregonian newspaper.
The Cedar Creek Fire expanded due to weather conditions last week, which saw winds from the east, high temperatures and drought, but improved weather late Monday made it easier for regarding 1,200 firefighters working to put out the blaze.
On Sunday, firefighters set up barricades once morest the flames along the roads. They noted that it may take regarding a week.
Another fire, “Double Creek Fire”, has been burning since August 30 in northwest Oregon, destroying more than 62,000 hectares of forest.
The American West is suffering the consequences of a devastating drought that has been going on for more than two decades and exacerbated by climate change. More than 90 fires are currently spreading in eight western states, stifling residents of major cities such as Seattle.
Firefighters are battling especially the “Fairview Fire” in the suburbs of Los Angeles, where significant progress was made in confronting it Monday, and the “Mosquito Fire” in the vicinity of Sacramento.