Western US Ablaze: Wildfires Rage Out of Control, Scorching an Area 19 Times Larger Than Yeouido
Wildfires Rage Across LA Neighborhoods for 4th Day, Fire Suppression Rate at 3%
Wildfires in the southwestern United States are spreading rapidly, with firefighters working to contain the blazes. However, the hot, dry weather combined with strong winds has hindered efforts, with the fire suppression rate currently at only 3%.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the wildfire that broke out on the 5th in the Running Springs area of San Bernardino County, adjacent to the east of Los Angeles (LA), has continued for the fourth day, increasing the damage.
As of 11:00 AM on this day, approximately 85.8 square kilometers of land were on fire, roughly 19 times the size of Yeouido (4.5 square kilometers). A total of 1,708 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire, but the fire suppression rate remains low. Authorities reported that 36,329 buildings are at risk from this wildfire.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, allowing for rapid federal assistance. Authorities stated that the area’s vegetation remains extremely dry, and the hot, dry weather caused by the heatwave is likely to further fuel wildfires in low-lying areas.
Heat warnings are currently in effect in inland LA County and San Bernardino County, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) for a week. Wildfires spread quickly in San Bernardino, where highs reached above 40 degrees last Friday and weekend. The area is a mountainous region around Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake, a tourist attraction in Southern California, and residents and tourists were hurriedly evacuated as wildfires spread last weekend.
A separate wildfire broke out in the Angeles National Forest in northeastern LA County, burning 5.1 square kilometers overnight. Additionally, a large wildfire broke out in Washoe County, Nevada, outside Reno, bordering California, prompting the state government to declare a state of emergency. The wildfire in the area forced 20,000 people to evacuate and left 6,000 homes without power.