Northwest US forest fire bigger than New York City

According to the authorities, only around 22 percent of the fire was under control on Saturday evening.

The fires known as “bootleg fires” continue to rage in the north-west of the United States and by Sunday had taken up an area of ​​almost 1,200 square kilometers. Around 3,100 houses are still at risk from the flames, said the Oregon Forestry Department. 67 houses have already been destroyed, only around 22 percent of the fire are currently under control, it said.

Among other things, heat, winds and extreme drought have contributed to the proportions, signs of global warming, according to scientists. The National Forest Service has instructed firefighters and employees to focus their resources on fighting fires in the coming weeks, reports “The Oregonian”. The forest fire season will last for months. But fires are already burning over around 1,600 square kilometers in the states of Oregon and Washington.

Tremendous heat

The western United States and southwestern Canada had suffered from intense heat in the past few days. In Death Valley, more than 53 degrees Celsius had been measured last Sunday, in Las Vegas the thermometer rose to over 45 degrees Celsius. California Governor Gavin Newsom had already declared a state of emergency at the end of the week before last because of the effects of the fire on the energy supply and because of the extreme heat.

(APA/dpa)

–