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California fires continue, but there’s good news from San Francisco
The largest wildfire in California history is spreading, but on the west coast of the United States in flames there is a clearing elsewhere as well. For the first time in weeks, the San Francisco area was not engulfed in thick, noxious smoke Wednesday.
On Thursday, the authorities wanted to refrain from issuing a warning to the population. Previously, they had warned of severe air pollution for more than 30 days in a row, a record for the west coast metropolis.
The Golden Gate Bridge on September 9, shortly before noon. Image: keystone
In other parts of the “Golden State”, however, the effects of the fires that had raged since mid-August could still be clearly felt. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that more than 17,000 firefighters were working on dozens of fires. Even after a two-week battle with the so-called Creek Fire in the Sierra Nevada, this wildfire was only 18 percent under control.
The massive August complex fire in northern Mendocino County, the largest in terms of area in recent California history, has expanded to a record area of more than 3,200 square kilometers of land. Yet it is wreaking havoc in a sparsely populated region – only 18 buildings were destroyed there, according to Cal Fire authorities. The massive blaze was only one-third contained, it said Wednesday.
Devastating fires in California and its northern neighbors Oregon and Washington destroyed huge areas of land and thousands of buildings. At least 35 people have died and more deaths are feared.
“More dangerous circumstances for years”
The devastation in Oregon has caused the closure of many roads and highways that could last months, “The Oregonian” reported.
Charred trees and other debris from the fire would have to be removed. “This is one of the most dangerous circumstances and the biggest damage in years,” said Katherine Benenati, a spokeswoman for the newspaper’s traffic authority.
In California, a section of the famous Highway 1 south of Big Sur was closed due to fire damage. The highway along the Pacific coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco is one of the most famous scenic drives in the world. (sda / dpa)
