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More than half a million people are fleeing the devastating wildfires on the west coast of the United States. The death toll continues to rise. Forecasters expect a slowdown.
At least 16 people died in the largest fires on the west coast of the United States in memory, and more than 500,000 residents of the affected areas had to flee their homes. However, the actual number of victims and the extent of the damage remained literally covered in smoke, and many cities in the states of California, Oregon and Washington were cut off from the outside world by gigantic walls of fire.
The flames were favored by strong winds and a heat wave. An approaching weather front with cooler temperatures offers some hope. Ten deaths have been discovered since the beginning of the week in the Butte region of Northern California alone. According to authorities, at least 16 people died in the fires along the west coast. Among them was a one-year-old boy whose parents were with him fleeing a gigantic fire east of Seattle. His parents were badly burned. Authorities warned that more deaths were feared.
Fight for human life
In Oregon, authorities ordered half a million people to leave their homes and escape the fires. In fighting the flames, “the main thing is to save lives,” the state fire department said. In Oregon alone there are currently more than 3,600 square kilometers of fires, an area the size of Mallorca. Five cities have already been largely destroyed.
According to Governor Kate Brown, twice as much land caught fire in 72 hours as the average in a year. “We have never seen so many wildfires in our state.” In the town of Molalla, the police went door to door to make sure that residents left their homes. “It’s horrible, this is my house,” said Denise Pentz, who has lived in the city for eleven years, as she loaded her family’s belongings in a trailer. “It’s one thing when you move out of your house. It’s quite another to be told to leave.” But ultimately, their babies, their husbands and their pets are more important, “and that all my neighbors got out safely.”
The fires unite
In California, on the other hand, more than 10,000 square miles of land had been burned by Friday morning. On Thursday, multiple fires combined to create the largest wildfire and wildfire the state has ever seen. High temperatures and a dry wind fuel the fire, which spread over an area of nearly 2,000 square kilometers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom gave hope to affected people and the 20,000 firefighters deployed to the West Coast when the weather began to “cooperate.” Decline wind and some rain are forecast in the coming days.
California, Oregon and Washington have been battling fast-spreading wildfires since last weekend, exacerbated by an unprecedented heat wave and dry winds. Wildfires and scrub fires have increased dramatically in recent years, which is why experts say global warming is partly responsible. In November 2018, 86 people died in the upstate in the most momentous wildfire in California history.
