Dozens of houses destroyed by wildfire in California
11
World
November 9, 2024 06:50
camarillo - A wildfire in California has destroyed at least 132 homes and damaged 88 other buildings.
The Mountain Fire broke out on Wednesday near Camarillo, approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles. By Friday, fueled by strong winds, the fire had already destroyed over 8000 hectares. The strong winds initially hampered the deployment of firefighting vehicles.
As the wind calmed down on Friday, around 2500 firefighters made progress in battling the fire. There have been no reported deaths or serious injuries.
Approximately 10,000 people had to be evacuated, some having only a few minutes to grab their belongings and pets. On Friday, residents of 3500 homes were allowed to return, but evacuation orders remained in place for 2000 homes.
Climate scientists suggest that rising temperatures have led to wetter winters, causing small trees, shrubs, and bushes in California's coastal area to thrive. Record high temperatures this summer dried out the hills, making them susceptible to wildfires.
The United States is experiencing an intense fire season, with 3.3 million hectares burned so far. The annual average for the past decade was around 2.8 million hectares. According to the government agency Cal Fire, wildfires in California have already burned more than three times the land compared to this time last year.