Forest fire in Northern California: 500 houses burned, two people died

A kilometer-long cloud of smoke hung over Northern California. Forest fires resulted in the 9 evacuation of thousands of residents in the Shasta district and fire zone. The smoke plume, according to the National Meteorological Service in Sacramento, was the result of a fire called Carr Fire. At the moment, the victims of the fire were two people.

Фото: Depositphotos

The California State National Guard reported that 800 soldiers and pilots had already arrived at the site of the fire or were on the road. On Friday, authorities passed through the smoldering remains of neighborhoods in the city of Redding, trying to determine how many houses were destroyed by fire, which also killed two residents, writes CNN.

A CNN film crew found dozens of houses in one of the districts that were completely destroyed by fire and turned into piles of ash. Residents and their relatives were allowed to return to search for surviving things or surviving pets that had to be left during the evacuation.

Photo: Instagram

One of the residents, Chris Corona, returned to his parents' house to find a cat named Jinx. The house burned to the ground, but the cat turned out to be alive - she hid in the bushes on the hillside, which was not affected by the fire. His neighbor had a similar experience: he grabbed his personal belongings, but was unable to take his dog with him. The animal survived; its owner found it unharmed in the ashes.

“I can’t believe that all this is no more - childhood memories, little things and the first children’s crafts that parents kept. But I’m glad that mom managed to save valuable things,” the man admits.

Photo: Instagram

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is already assessing the damage. According to representatives, Carr Fire destroyed the small communities of Shasta and Keswick before jumping across the Sacramento River and burning houses on the outskirts of Redding, a city in 95 000 residents in 200 km south of the California-Oregon border.

Photo: Instagram

According to residents, some had only 30 minutes to evacuate their homes, while others were given about two hours. People admit that they grabbed everything that came to hand, and when they left, they remembered the important things they left behind. Everyone was scared - no one knew whether they would find their home in the same place when they returned after the fire. But everyone understood that the city would never be the same.

The fire has destroyed at least 500 structures, damaged 75 more and is threatening about 5000 homes and buildings, fire department spokesman Scott Kenney said. He called the fire “extremely dangerous.”

Two people died during the fire. One of them was identified as fire brigade inspector Jeremy Stoke.

“Jeremy died fighting the Carr Fire,” the Redding union said on Twitter. “We ask for your thoughts and prayers for his family and the city's fire department as they deal with this tragic loss.”

The operator of a private bulldozer, whose name is not called, died in an unequal battle with fire.

Three Marin County Fire Department employees - engineer Scott Pederson, two firefighters Tyler Barnes and Brian Cardoza - were hospitalized with burns to their ears, hands and face, later leaving there in stable condition. Another firefighter was taken to a burn center, the service said in a press release. Eight people are being treated for respiratory and burn injuries at Mercy Medical Center in Redding.

Photo: Instagram

In total, the flames doubled in size for 12 hours and now covers 195 square kilometers, it is possible to keep it only on 5% of the territory.

More than 1700 firefighters are trying to control the fire that broke out Monday, but heat and wind continue to help the fire spread, authorities say. Officials say the Carr Fire started as a result of a "vehicle mechanical accident."

The flames destroyed trees, houses and historic buildings in Shasta district and temporarily closed traffic on the 299 highway. Also, the fire touched Oak Bottom harbor on Lake Whiskeytown, west of Redding, where he burned down some 40 boats and part of the pier.

"All that's left here is the firehouse and a few restrooms," says Shasta County Fire Chief Mike Hebrard.

The fire broke and the movement of trains. Amtrak said the Coast Starlight line, running daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, was stopped between Sacramento and Klamath-Folsom, Oregon, until conditions change.

Photo: Instagram

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Thursday for Riverside and Shasta counties.

Brown sent a letter to President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking for an emergency declaration by the President about direct federal assistance to further support the communities affected by the fire in Shasta district.

“Additional federal assistance is needed to save lives and protect property, public health and safety, and reduce the impact of this imminent disaster,” Brown said in the letter.

Brown is asking for "direct federal assistance, including Department of Defense air assets, to immediately begin mitigating the impact of this fire, provide shelter and water for the 30 Shasta County evacuees, USDA assistance with large animal evacuation, assistance with mass management, assistance with evacuation for persons with special needs, as well as ambulatory transport.”

Carr Fire is one of six large forest fires in California, 89 active large fires raging in 14 states, according to the National Inter-Agency Fire Center. In another part of the state, Ferguson Fire prompted the closure of the most iconic areas of Yosemite National Park, leading to the death of one person and injuries to several firefighters. The park will be re-opened to all 3 visitors in August. The flames that rage west of the park burned 188 square kilometers and localized to 29% using 3800 firefighters. 36-year-old Braden Varney, a heavy-duty fire equipment operator, died last weekend fighting a flame. In recent weeks, there have been three fire deaths on the state.

Another massive wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest, known as Cranston Fire, forced thousands of people to leave their homes and led to the arrest of one person. 32-year-old Brandon N. McGlover from Temecula was arrested on Wednesday and charged with five points of arson in a wooded area. The authorities said that McGlover had started not only Cranston Fire, but other fires in the region. More than 1300 firefighters are fighting this flame, which has destroyed almost 50 square kilometers and is localized at just 16%.

The fire, which is burning about 8 miles southwest of Palm Springs, has forced the evacuation of Idyllwild and other communities. The area around Idyllwild has already been the target of massive forest fires in June 2013, when more than 110 square kilometers of the area were burned.

Video of the #CarrFire as it burns closer to the City of Redding. Eureka Way / HWY 299. And the fire has grown since then. pic.twitter.com/RYcKmg216L

- Mario Montalvo (@MarioMNews) July 27, 2018

President Donald Trump announced an emergency in california in connection with forest fires, the White House said.

“Today, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in California and directed federal support to states, tribes and localities in light of emergency conditions due to wildfires that began on July 23, 2018, and are still ongoing,” it said.

State authorities have opened a hotline to search for missing persons and those who cannot communicate with relatives living in Shasta district or its administrative center, the city of Redding. Since the opening of the line on Friday, 12 has received applications, three people have been found. Now nine people are missing.

Read also on ForumDaily:

What to do in case of a fire in a public place: a reminder that can save your life

Four days of horror: the story of the rescue of a tourist in the California desert

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.