Thousands told to flee California wildfire. July 5, 2024

An out-of-control wildfire in northern California has prompted thousands of people to flee (JOSH EDELSON)

By AFP -Agence France Presse

Thousands told to flee California wildfire.

Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire rages out of control in northern California, with a swathe of the United States hit by a "record-breaking and dangerous" heatwave complicating firefighting efforts.

More than 1,400 hectares of grass and forest have been consumed since Tuesday when the fire started on the outskirts of Oroville.

The town, near the state capital of Sacramento, is just 38 kilometers from Paradise. This community was devastated in 2018 by the deadliest wildfire in California history, which claimed the lives of 85 people.

Butte County fire chief Garrett Sjolund said the area was under a so-called "red flag alert".

"The conditions that exist in our county this summer are very different from what we've had the last two summers," he told reporters.

"The fuels are very dense. The bushes are dry and, as you can see, any wind can put the fire out very quickly."

More than 25,000 people in the area were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday, local NBC affiliate KCRA reported.

- Fireworks

Climate scientists say the western US is undergoing a decades-long aridification as weather patterns change, at least in part due to man-made global warming.

California has suffered nearly 20 years of drought, but the last two years have been relatively mild, with near-record amounts of rain filling reservoirs and triggering furious growth in forests and grasslands.

However, 2024 is shaping up to be a hot and dry year, and this flora is drying out rapidly, creating a lot of fuel for the forest fires that are a normal part of the ecosystem's natural cycle.

The conditions have prompted authorities to warn of the possibility of devastating fires, especially if people are careless with fireworks during the Independence Day holiday on July 4.

"We've had four fires in the last two weeks. This is a bad fire season," said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.

"The last thing we need is for someone who bought fireworks at a local fireworks stand to go out and do something stupid. Don't be an idiot."

On Wednesday, around 1,400 firefighters were attacking the flames on the ground with heavy machinery and by air with planes and helicopters, pouring red fire suppressant.

Sjolund said that equipment and personnel were arriving from other jurisdictions to reinforce operations.

A few people, including some firefighters, were injured, but none seriously.

AFP journalists saw buildings and vehicles destroyed in the fire.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, a measure designed to free up resources and help in the battle against the fire.

"We are using every tool available to fight this fire and will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to support affected communities," he said.

"As we enter some of the most challenging months of the wildfire season, the state is more prepared than ever to protect at-risk communities with new tools, technology, and resources."

- 'Record-breaking' -

The National Weather Service (NWS) said the area is expected to record extremely high temperatures in the coming days, with the mercury reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) in some spots.

The oppressive heat is part of a system that is expected to affect almost half of the country's population, including over the July 4th holiday weekend.

"Dangerous, record-breaking heat is forecast to make the Fourth of July week sweltering across much of the West and south from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic," the NWS said Wednesday.

"Nearly 150 million residents are currently under heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories in 21 states as of this afternoon."

Forecasters said the heat would reach the west coast and take hold of central California before spreading further over the week, including in Oregon and Washington to the north.

"Dozens of records are possible, expressing the rarity of this early July heat wave," said the NWS.

Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common as our planet warms, largely due to humanity's uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

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