2023-10-31 19:06:14
UNITED STATES
In California, fire threatens thousands of people
Southeast of Los Angeles, the Highland Fire forced authorities to evacuate more than 5,000 residents. The fire is currently not at all controlled by the firefighters.
PublishedOctober 31, 2023, 8:06 p.m.
As of Tuesday morning, the Highland Fire spanned 900 hectares and was not at all contained by firefighters.
REUTERS
In the United States, an intense fire, fanned by violent winds, spread on Tuesday in southern California and pushed the authorities to issue an evacuation order for several thousand people. Around 5,700 people are thus invited to leave areas threatened by the flames, in a rural region southeast of Los Angeles, a little more than 80 km from Palm Springs.
The Highland Fire, which broke out at midday on Monday, extended over 900 hectares on Tuesday morning and was not yet contained at all by firefighters. The flames destroyed three buildings and six other structures were damaged.
More than 300 firefighters are currently battling the blaze, aided by water bombers. Strong winds are making it difficult for firefighters to respond, said a spokeswoman for the Riverside County Fire Department. “The biggest problem right now is the strong winds,” she explained. It is also a question of topography; the fire sinks and settles in many valleys and ravines.”
Gusts of up to 50 mph are expected throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.
The wet winter “boosted” the vegetation
Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common in the fall in the southwestern United States and fuel the risk of fire in this highly fire-vulnerable region. The last very wet winter, followed by an exceptionally wet remainder of 2023, led to explosive vegetation growth across large areas of California following years of drought. Experts had warned that this vegetation could dry out and fuel fires.
(AFP)Show comments
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