The governor of California has declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties following the wildfires that have severely affected the south of the state.
Gavin Newsom made the announcement after the Airport Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.
Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies survey the damage caused by the Airport Fire on September 11, 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California.Getty Images
The Bridge Fire, meanwhile, has destroyed 50,000 acres in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
In a post on social media site X, Newsom said he had declared a state of emergency to support efforts to extinguish both blazes, after securing federal government support for that purpose.
“We are in the fire season. Please, Take evacuation orders seriously“, said.
The declaration of a state of emergency allows authorities to allocate additional resources to the regions affected by the fires.
Newsom’s decision also gives the green light to activate the members of the National Guard.
Three massive wildfires are raging out of control in mountainous areas of Southern California, scorching more than 100,000 acres of land as rescue teams raced against the clock Wednesday to contain the spread of the flames.
In addition to the Airport and Bridge fires, the Line fire is the biggest concern for authorities in San Bernardino County, where it has already scorched just over 35,000 acres and is 14% contained, county Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Some 73,000 structures have been threatened by this fire,” which translates into a danger for 100,000 citizens of the county who remain on evacuation alert, he added.
Firefighters watch the progress of the Fire Line in Angelus Oaks, California, on Sept. 9, 2024. Associated Press
More than 3,000 officers are deployed in the area to try to extinguish the fire, which broke out on September 5, amid a heat wave that particularly affected Southern California.
The Bridge Fire, which started Sunday in the Angeles National Forest, a vast mountainous area located in the San Gabriel and Pelona mountain ranges, has also sparked concern among authorities about its rapid expansion.
In the last 24 hours, this fire It expanded from 4,000 to over 50,000 acres fueled by the extreme heat and arid conditions of the area.
In addition, “there are 65,600 structures that remain threatened,” according to the latest bulletin provided by the California Fire Department (CalFire).
Meanwhile, the Airport Fire, which has scorched vast tracts of land, has grown in size since Monday, fueled by strong winds.
Smoke rises from the Bridge Fire on September 9, 2024 near Glendora, California.Getty Images
At least seven people have been injured in incidents related to the evacuation and containment of the flames, which are difficult to extinguish due to the limited resources available to rescue teamsdue to the number of active fires in Southern California, CalFire said.
With information from Fox 11 and EFE
