thousands of firefighters fought into the night Monday against the spreading of forest fires in Northern California. Governor Gavin Newsom called on Sunday (local time) a state of emergency for the entire US Federal government. Tens of thousands of people were ordered according to the authorities, to leave their homes.
In California rage currently, several forest fires, fanned by heat, drought and Santa Ana winds. In Los Angeles, the local fire Department began on Monday the Evacuation actions, after close to the famous Getty Museum, a “very dynamic” fire had broken out. Of particular concern is the situation in Sonoma, where, since Wednesday, the “Kincade”-fire near the city of Santa Rosa wreaking havoc for the authorities.
Gavin Newsom is looking at the aftermath of the devastating fire in his state. (Keystone)
the Governor, Newsom said, because of the impact of the “unprecedented” winds a state of emergency in the whole of California. “More than 3000 people are in use, in order to ensure that the evacuations went well, and people take them seriously,” said Newsom.
“The police came with the speakers,” said Kathy Amundson, who continued her 90-year-old mother, Joy, in your car and then to safety in an emergency shelter in the city of Petaluma brought. “We smelled smoke, but we could not see him,” she said. The chief of police of the district of Sonoma, Mark Essick, said at a press conference that hundreds of policemen were in use, to protect the evacuated areas of the property of the residents before looting.
Only ten percent of control
More than 3,000 firefighters as well as fire-fighting airplanes and helicopters, the “Kincade”fire-fighting. It is spread according to the fire Department on Monday night on an area of more than 14’000 hectares. Until Sunday, the fire was only to ten percent under control. The authorities do not expect the fire in front of the 7. To have November completely contained.
Video: Devastating forest fires in California The Governor of the U.S. state has declared a state of emergency. (Video: Tamedia)
The flames have already destroyed dozens of buildings, including the well-known, 150 year-old winery “Soda Rock Winery”. “We are devastated,” wrote the owner on Facebook. The entire staff is in safety, it was stated in the message.
forecasters warned on Sunday in front of other unusually violent and continued winds, which should weaken only in the course of Monday. A representative of the fire brigade warned of an even greater disaster that would spread the fire further to the West of the major traffic artery, highway 101, and beyond. In this area there had been since the 40s, no fires, the old bushes and trees in this Region are therefore “dry”.
high-voltage line to turn off as a possible cause of fire
Due to the large risk of fire in California had announced the largest energy utility, PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric), almost one Million customers with electricity and Gas. Last November, ailing, had power lines from PG&E damaged triggered the most devastating forest fire in California history. At that time, 86 people were the deadly fire rolling to the victims.
An incident at a high-voltage power line of the energy supplier could also be the trigger of the “Kincade”fire in the district of Sonoma. Governor Newsom accused the company to have its Profit “too long” over the interests of the people in California put. It needs to be held accountable. PG&E has already requested prior to months of creditor protection.
Largely the all-clear, the authorities said, meanwhile, to the South of California. Around 50’000 people who have to leave because of the “Tick”from fire to their homes around Santa Clara, Los Angeles had, could return at the weekend. (aru/fal/sda)
Created: 28.10.2019, 16:59 PM
