According to the CCTV news client, on the afternoon of August 5, local time, a fire broke out on a hillside in San Bernardino, California, United States. Due to the dry bushes and high temperatures on the hillside, the fire spread rapidly, and the burned area increased from about 20,000 square meters to about 220,000 square meters in just over three hours, and many houses were burned.
Source: CCTV news client
Residents in the vicinity were evacuated, and about 200 homes were left without electricity. No casualties have been reported. One suspect was arrested, but police did not disclose any further information.
Source: CCTV news client
California, United States, "enters peak fire season"
On August 3 and 4, local time, California United States ushered in high temperatures and strong winds, and California is currently experiencing the largest wildfire this year, and unfavorable weather factors may increase the difficulty of extinguishing fires.
On July 31, multiple wildfires continued to spread in the western United States. Source: CCTV news client
According to the Associated Press, the wildfires in California that began on July 24 and spread rapidly, have burned at least 542 buildings and damaged another 50 buildings, and now burned an area of 1,616 square kilometers, making it the fourth largest wildfire on record in California.
The fires continue to advance northwards and have spread to the lava landscape around Lassen Volcano National Park, which has been closed due to the threat of wildfires.
Hotter and drier weather increases the risk of fires
The "Parker" wildfire, which began on the 24th, is still spreading. Source: CCTV news client
At present, nearly 6,400 firefighters have been dispatched to extinguish the fire, and as of the 2nd, 24% of the fire has been controlled. Ryan ·Valbron, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in United States, said that after a few days of mild weather, more windy days are expected to be ushered in, and a surge in monsoon hot and humid air will lead to an increase in the risk of thunderstorms, and the risk of fire is expected to rise due to the resurgence of electrical wiring and lightning strikes. In addition, the maximum temperature in the local area is expected to rise to about 39.4 degrees Celsius in the next few days, which may push the wildfires to spread more quickly and even new fires.
Valbron said the expected storm is unlikely to bring fire-fighting rainfall, and the weather is expected to continue to warm and dry next week. "Looking back, we're actually just entering the peak of California's fires."
The wildfire in California is suspected to have been caused by arson, and police have arrested a male suspect in his 40s. He is suspected of deliberately pushing a burning car into a deep ditch on the side of the road, thereby causing a wildfire.
Wildfires broke out in many parts of the United States
Wildfires continued in many parts of the United States, and the sky over Denver on July 24 was covered with smoke and haze. Source: CCTV news client
Since June this year, the western region of United States has been hit by hot weather one after another, and wildfires have broken out in many places. The National Interagency Fire Center of United States says there are currently nearly 100 fires in the western United States.
Wildfires have broken out in many places in Colorado in the United States in recent days, one of which spread in the densely populated area of Frank Ridge at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, killing at least one person. As of the 2nd, three wildfires destroyed about 30 buildings in populated areas north and south of Denver, Colorado, and thousands of residents received evacuation orders.
On the afternoon of the 2nd, a new fire broke out in the high-altitude desert near the Oregon resort town of Bend, and the local evacuation notice was issued, the power supply to thousands of people was interrupted, and highway traffic was blocked.
The Associated Press, citing researchers, reported that climate change is making the western United States and other parts of the world drier, and extreme wildfires more frequent and destructive.
Source: China News Service, CCTV news client