More than 1,000 wildfires burn in northern California
Pastor Dale Morgan
More than 1,000 wildfires burn in northern California*
Jun 26, 2008, 19:58 GMT
San Francisco - The normally blue skies of northern California were
thick with smoke Thursday as more than 1,000 forest fires burned across
the region.
One of the worst blazes was burning out of control near the renowned
coastal beauty spot of Big Sur, having already burned 15 houses and
threatening 500 more. It also threatened a historic library at the site,
where famous author Henry Miller spent his final years.
The authorities in many areas warned of 'unhealthy' air quality, the San
Francisco Chronicle reported under the headline Having a Bad Air Day, as
smoke blanketed much of the vast state and was thick enough to mask the
sun in many areas. Seniors and children were advised to stay indoors
with windows closed to minimize breathing problems.
Many of the fires were triggered by a spate of weekend lightning strikes
and meteorologists were calling for similar conditions for the end of
this week.
An army of more than 11,000 firefighters backed by 48 water- dropping
aircraft and with support from the neighbouring states of Oregon and
Nevada were battling the flames. According to state authority Cal Fire
the fires had burned more than 534 square kilometres.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited affected areas in Big
Sur and in the Sierra Mountains foothills on Wednesday and called in the
National Guard to boost firefighting efforts.
He called on people not to buy fireworks for the traditional July 4 US
Independence Day celebrations, as it was too dry and too dangerous to
set them off.
Earlier this month, Schwarzenegger had declared a state of emergency in
California because of the dangers related to the dry weather.
In the Mendocino region alone, more than 130 fires were burning, forcing
hundreds from their homes, while in the Shasta Trinity forest more than
150 fires were burning.
Initial reports were of little damage to property.
Yet the fires are causing huge concern coming early in the season due to
low rainfall over the winter and spring that left brush bone dry at
least two months ahead of schedule.
California's worst fire months are usually in September and October,
when hot dry inland winds blow across the south of the state. Last year
more than 2,000 homes were destroyed by the late summer fires, causing
more than 3 billion dollars in damage.