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California Wildfires Rage
California Wildfires Rage
by Jake Graf
California wildfires have set the state ablaze in what is being called the Maria Fire. Locals have been driven from their homes and forced to flee to safer areas. As more fires spread, even Los Angeles is under some threat as residents from nearby San Bernardino county had to evacuate.
California fire officials spoke to NBC News saying:
"It started, just a very small corner and then like within minutes it just expanded really quickly, but the firemen were on top of it because within like five minutes you just saw a huge line of them just driving up the hill.”
California fire officials went on to mention how they were still recovering from the Thomas Fire just two years ago. That fire destroyed more than 1,000 structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties after it broke out on Dec. 4 near Santa Paula.
Two were killed in the fire, and heavy rain in the burn scar unleashed a debris flow in the coastal community of Montecito that killed more than 20 people.
Ventura County Fire Assistant Chief John McNeil stated in an interview with NBC:
“I want to assure you that this is not the Thomas Fire, based on the location, it's going to eventually run out of fuel ... we’re looking at maybe 12,000 acres at the biggest footprint on this.”
As of this past Sunday, evacuation orders have been lifted, and the fire is for the most part contained. According to NPR, the Maria Fire is a little over 80% contained and continuing to run out of fuel.
With the fires under control, California faces a new problem. With the strange weather conditions caused by the fire, officials claim that there is a chance that the the Mojave River Dam may overflow.
USA Today reported that the U.S. Army Corps have switched the Dam Safety Action Classification of the Mojave River Dam from low to high urgency of action, meaning steps must be taken to safeguard communities close to the river.
The risk is minimal but still present, and officials have reminded the public that they are at the bay of Mother Nature and depending on the weather, communities such as Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victorville and Barstow are at risk for flash floods.
Officials are urging everyone to sign up for phone alerts and prepare emergency kits incase of any flooding.
In an interview with USA Today, Kristen Bedolla, dam safety program manager for the Corps’ Los Angeles District, stated:
“We’re going to be enacting a lot of emergency-preparedness activities, as we turn the corner toward winter, we’re definitely going to be more proactive in working with our downstream partners.’’
California continues to recover and put down most of the fires, while the threat of a flood looms over their heads. The most we can do is send them our prayers.
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