California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for areas impacted by two wildfires, the Park Fire in Butte and Tehama counties and the Gold Complex Fire in Plumas County. These fires have destroyed homes, threatened critical infrastructure, and forced many residents to evacuate. The Park Fire has grown to 239,152 acres with no containment, while the Gold Complex Fire has consumed 3,007 acres and was 11% contained as of Friday night.
The proclamations for these counties provide benefits for fire victims, such as easier access to unemployment benefits and waived fees to replace lost documents like driver’s licenses. The fires have destroyed 134 structures so far and evacuations and road closures are in effect.
The Park Fire was allegedly started by a man who pushed a burning car into a gully, sparking the blaze. The suspect, Ronnie Dean Stout II, was arrested on suspicion of felony arson. The area around the Park Fire was under a red flag warning due to gusty winds and low humidity.
These wildfires are part of a larger trend of increased fire weather in the Western U.S., with some areas experiencing double the amount of fire weather compared to a century ago, potentially linked to climate change. The fires in California are part of a larger pattern of summer wildfires across the region, sending massive plumes of smoke into the atmosphere.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
