- On Monday, residents and tourists from communities near Lake Tahoe fled as a two-week violent wildfire roared near the popular resort.
- The US Forest Service stated that it is taking unusual measures to close all 18 national forests and evacuate people in and around the town.
- Given the large number of fires in California and other western states, the agency also mentioned “very limited” resources that can be used to extinguish wildfires.
On Monday, residents and tourists from communities near Lake Tahoe fled, as a two-week violent wildfire passed through the arid and arid forest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California and roared near the popular resort.
During the evacuation of people in South Lake Tahoe and its surrounding areas, the U.S. Forest Service stated that it is taking unusual measures to close all 18 California’s national forests to the public during the fire season. The fire season has become the highest in the United States. One of the severe fire seasons. record.
The closure will last for 17 days, starting on Wednesday, and effectively extending the closure of nine national forests in northern California. The plan began on August 23 and will end on the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.
In September last year, all 18 national forests in California were similarly closed due to what the Forest Service described as “unprecedented” fire conditions. In its latest announcement, the agency cited “fire behavior beyond our experience norms.”
Given the large number of fires in California and a dozen other western states, the agency also cited “very limited” resources that can be used to curb wildfires.
In this quarter alone, more than 6,800 wildfires in California burned an estimated 689,000 hectares of land—most of which were Forest Service property—so that 2021 is expected to exceed the record number consumed by fire last year.
The so-called Kaldor Fire near Lake Tahoe has become one of the most destructive and destructive fires this summer, spreading more than 71,740 hectares since August 14. As of Monday, firefighters managed to reach 14% of its circumference. Draw a fence around. .
‘Never seen’
The smoke and ashes from the fire suffocated the normally pristine sky around Lake Tahoe for several days, causing many tourists to leave early.
According to the California Forestry and Fire Department (Cal Fire), since Sunday, dry fuel and uphill canyon winds have helped expand the fire by nearly 10,000 acres.
Evacuation orders were issued in several areas, including part of El Dorado County south of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the border between California and Nevada and is popular for swimming, boating, hiking, and camping. The area is also home to a popular ski resort in winter.
California Fire Department Chief Thom Porter said in a Monday briefing:
There was a fire in California that we had never seen before.
He said the fire is destroying houses and wilderness on both sides of the Sierra Mountains.
Hotel owner Neil Panchal and his family did not pack their clothes, medicine and food until around 03:00 so that they could leave their South Lake Tahoe home for Nevada on Monday morning.
“We have never seen anything like this. The children are crying,” Panchal, 42, told Reuters. He and his wife, their two children and his in-laws were about to drive away from the smoke, he said His throat has been injured.
“First is Covid, now is the most important,” said Panchal, who owns two hotels in the area, both of which have been evacuated.
The entire South Lake Tahoe was ordered to be evacuated, where there were approximately 22,000 residents. Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, said at a briefing that first responders went door-to-door to urge people to leave and the local prison was emptied.
As thousands of people tried to flee immediately, traffic jams, Giladucci said, “there are many problems related to evacuation.” He said the state is working with local officials to plan a safe and orderly evacuation.
According to Cal Fire, the Caldo fire has destroyed at least 472 houses and other buildings and injured five people, including firefighters and civilians.
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