The state of emergency declaration will help in boosting wildfire response, especially with fires burning from the top to the bottom of the state. Governor Brown stated, “California’s severe drought and extreme weather have turned much of the state into a tinderbox. Our courageous firefighters are on the front lines and we’ll do everything we can to help them.”
The latest series of wildfires first broke out on June 17 and are burning in counties across the state including: Butte El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego , Shasta, Solano, Tulare, Tuolumne and Yolo. The declaration makes it easier to mobilize the National Guard to help in fighting the fires. Over 8,000 firefighters are involved in fighting these fires.
One firefighter, David Ruhl of Rapid City, South Dakota, has lost his life fighting the Frog Fire in far northern California’s Modoc National Forest, near Adin on Thursday. His body was recovered by crews on Friday morning after a search that went on through the night said Forest Service officials.
CNN is reporting that Ruhl, survived by a wife and two children, was on temporary assignment in the area since June. The Forest Service is not releasing details about his death, adding that it was under investigation. “Our hearts are heavy for Dave, Dave’s family, friends, the entire Forest Service and wildland fire community,” CNN quoted Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien as saying.
Cal Fire is saying that over 50,000 acres of land in two counties has been incinerated, even though most of the fires are about 60 percent contained. The two fires, in San Bernardino County and northern California’s Alpine counties, have resulted in extensive damage.
One of the largest fires in the state is the Rocky Fire in northern California’s Lake County. This fire has already consumed 22,500 acres, and destroyed 28 structures, as well as putting another 6,100 under threat. Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said over 1,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Another big fire, in the Lower Lake area north of San Francisco, has consumed 16,000 acres and is only five percent contained. This fire has already destroyed three homes as of Friday, and another 450 homes are at threat of being destroyed. Firefighters have been wading through the smoke and embers, turning loose livestock in the rural area where people have already fled.
