California fire authorities said a fire outside Yosemite National Park in the state was “demonstrating unprecedented behavior” and “moving very quickly,” jeopardizing evacuation efforts due to lack of time, according to the California Network.CNN“.
The Oak Fire has so far spread to more than 16,700 hectares of land, destroying at least seven buildings, according to Fire Brigade official John Hagee. “The reaction time to get people out is limited because this fire is moving very fast,” the official added.
The Oak Fire has forced at least 3,000 people from their homes, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, since the fire began Friday in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
About 25,000 firefighters are involved in the ongoing effort, and only 10 percent of the fire has been contained.
Twitter users posted videos of the fire, with some describing the clouds of smoke and the orange reflection of fire and sun in the sky as a “surreal view of the end of the world.”
Surreal apocalyptic scene from the #OakFire pic.twitter.com/ylTyJgoLhb
— Technically J (@Technically_J) July 24, 2022
Authorities said the teams are using more than 10 helicopters, 281 fire engines and 46 tanks of the type capable of transporting large amounts of water.
#Oakfire Some of the air show on the Oak Fire on the South Eastern side pic.twitter.com/HuF5Fk7PL8
— Tim Walton (@Photo1Prod) July 25, 2022
The Oak Fire is the largest of California’s currently active fires, fueled by drought conditions that extend across much of the state, leaving behind brittle, fast-burning vegetation.
The fire affects the weather in other states. The National Weather Service in Portland, Oregon, said in a tweet that high temperatures could be affected if smoke from the oak fire reaches the city.