Healdsburg, California – California is under a historic fire siege with more lightning expected Sunday night. Nearly 1.3 million acres have been burned as more than 14,000 extinct firefighters fight non-stop flames. The extinguishers are considered to be the second and third largest of the Golden State in its history.
In the wine country of California, the LNU Lightning Complex fire is relentless. To date, the fire has burned more than 500 square miles – an area 11 times the size of San Francisco – and has destroyed nearly 900 structures and threatened 30,000 more.
A red flag warning is in place for the entire bay area where the SCU Lightning Complex fire is 340,000 acres and growing. Five counties are under new evacuations.
The CZU Lightning Complex fire, 100 miles to the south, decimates the Big Basin Redwoods. The protected trees – about 2500 years old – were almost cut down by loggers in the 1800s. Now man-made climate change has damaged or destroyed many of these ancient giants.
From space, satellite images show the smoke of fires traveling thousands of miles. Dennis Kirby is part of one of the many firefighters working around the clock.
“Fewer people, fewer resources … You’re tight-lipped,” he told CBS News.
Firefighters typically work 24 hour shifts, but some work three to four days straight. One crew was seen cutting dry vegetation. Fire teams from 10 different states and two countries, including Australia, will be deployed for backup.
At least five people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated from the area. On Friday night, flashing flames kicked two firefighters, who had to be taken to the air.
California Gavin Newsom said Saturday that the White House approved a major disaster statement for the state.
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