Wildfires remain uncontained in California

Raging California fires 0% contained

Catastrophe & Flood

By Allie Sanchez

Hundreds of families have already fled as two wildfires remain uncontained in the outskirts of Los Angeles. Tinder dry terrain and an extreme heatwave sparked a wildfire in Duarte and Azusa, in the Angeles national forest east of LA.

The affected area covers a combined 5,400 acres. The US Forest Service reported that the fire is still 0% contained.  

Around 600 firefighters grappled with the wildfire, with the help of air tankers and helicopters, with an increase in personnel expected within the week. Police have also been deployed to prevent looting of the evacuated homes.

The American Red Cross has already set up an evacuation centre at the Duarte Community Centre amidst mandatory evacuation in the affected areas.

Authorities reminded residents to take responsibility for fire proofing their homes and planning for possible evacuation, creating defensible space by clearing brush away from their houses, using fire resistant landscaping, among others.

California is into its fifth year of drought, leaving the state vulnerable to wildfires because of dried scrub and dead trees. Officials said the blazes may herald a long fire season. More than 30,000 acres in California have burned from the fires.
 

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