Northern California Wildfires Killed at Least 5 People
Wildfires raging in Northern California have already taken at least five lives and threaten thousands of people to flee from their homes, authorities said.
Sheriff Thomas A. Ferrara reported the death of a resident in Solano County, in the northeastern San Francisco Bay Area. Thomas did not give any additional details.
Three civilians have also died in Napa County since the fires started, according to Cal Fire assistant deputy director Daniel Berlant.
The death of a Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker was not immediately clear if it was included in the Solano and Napa fatalities. The worker was found dead Wednesday in a vehicle in the Vacaville area between San Francisco and Sacramento.
A pilot on a water-dropping mission in central California also died when his helicopter crashed on Wednesday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the current wildfires ravaging the state. He said the wildfires are clear evidence of climate change. Newsom added that people who are still in denial about climate change should come to California.
Northern California Wildfires
Over two dozen major fires were happening in California and taxing the state's firefighting capacity. The fires have destroyed 175 structures, including homes.
These wildfires are threatening more than 50,000 infrastructures. A total of 33 civilians and firefighters have been injured, and at least two people were missing.
The fires have also affected about 500 square miles of brushland, rural areas, canyon country, and forest surrounding San Francisco.
More than 10,000 firefighters are fighting the wildfires. However, fire officials said each of the major fire complexes is strapped for resources. Some were working 72-hour shifts, instead of the usual 24 hours.
California has also requested 375 engines and crew from other states.
"That's going to allow our firefighters that have been on the front line since this weekend to have an opportunity to take some rest," Berlant said in a report.
Incident commander, Cal Fire Assistant Chief Billy See, said more firefighters were sent to the field, but it is still not enough. See noted that they are drastically short for a fire of this size.
"Today we saw a growth of approximately 700 to 1,000 acres an hour in heavy timber. That's a dangerous rate of spread for our firefighters and for all those residents out there," See said.
Marin County fire chief Jason Weber noted that he had not seen this level of drawdown in his 25 years in fire service.
Ways You Can Help
Concerned agencies across the state are looking for ways to aid those affected by the California wildfires.
For one, you can help evacuate animals by assisting concerned shelters, such as Herd and Flock Animal Sanctuary in Vacaville. These places are also seeking donations to care properly for the evacuated animals.
Besides animal shelters, you can also donate to food banks that provide relief to families affected by the wildfires. They are responsible for handing out emergency food without any cost.
Other organizations that are seeking donations are the California Fire Foundation and the American Red Cross.
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