Massive Wildfires Sweeping Across Northern California

Paras+Vineyards+burning+in+Napa%2C+California+October+10%2C+2017%0A

Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

Paras Vineyards burning in Napa, California October 10, 2017

Haley Mickey, News Editor

Thousands of Northern California residents have been forced to evacuate their homes in order to escape the ruthless wildfires that are devastating the area.  The cause of the fires remains unknown, but investigators have stated that the fires may have been caused due to multiple different factors.  Powerful winds in the area have made it much easier for the fires to spread.  They also believe California’s abundant dry vegetation, lack of humidity, downed power lines, and campfires could also be possible causes.  As of October 12, nearly 50,000 residents have been forced to evacuate and at least 26 people have been killed.  Residents from the evacuated areas have been told not to return to their homes and many are staying in hotels or shelters until further notice.  

Hundreds of people have been reported as missing, and many people are concerned about their lack of contact with their missing friends and family members.  Authorities are hoping that the lack of communication is simply due to quick evacuations and downed cell phone towers and that hopefully everyone will be found safe.  Three school districts in the area, with a combined total of around 81,000 students, have been closed for the rest of the week due to the smoke.  Crews of firefighters have been sent out to devastated areas, such as Calistoga and Santa Rosa, to turn over soil and remove shrubbery, because strong winds can re-ignite embers and start the fires up again.  Neighboring states and federal agencies are providing more personnel to aid the almost 8,000 firefighters and other support members who are already fighting the fires across the state.  

California Governor Jerry Brown stated, “This is truly one of the greatest tragedies California has ever faced, the devastation is just unbelievable.  It is a horror that no one could have imagined”.  In Sonoma County, damages are estimated to cost up to three billion dollars. About 60% of the two largest fires have been contained and the fires will continue to be subdued by some rain later in the week.   In the wake of this tragedy, many families must now learn to cope with the loss of their home and all of their belongings.

 

Contributed by:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/11/us/northern-california-fires-factors/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/26-dead-horrific-california-wildfires-hundreds-missing/story?id=50383162

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-northern-california-wildfires-20171012-story.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/16/us/california-fires-updates/index.html