Hundreds of fires are currently raging in the west United States of America And Canada, lonely for the past few days Dozens of other fires have been added. One of them, called the “river” fire, is spreading rapidly near the famous Yosemite National Park in the US state. California Outside.
The bushfires have rapidly grown to an area of ​​32 square kilometers, the Cal Fire Authority announced Monday afternoon. Hundreds of residents had to leave their homes. The fires were to destroy five buildings. Nearly 500 helpers battled the fires in Mariposa and Madeira counties, about 30 kilometers from Yosemite National Park.
For an as yet unknown reason, the fire broke out on Sunday when maximum summer temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius in the area. For days now, people in California and other western states have been experiencing a heat wave. Constant dehydration increases the risk of fire. In California alone, authorities listed dozens of major fires on Monday.
Yosemite Park is closed in the fall of 2020
As early as September 2020, Yosemite National Park was open to visitors a week should shut downBecause thick smoke was spreading over the area. Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known for its waterfalls and massive granite boulders, attracts millions of visitors each year.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, nearly 60 wildfires in the United States have caused wood to dry out and flake. Alaska to Wyoming eaten. ArizonaAnd the Idaho And the Montana It was responsible for more than half of the largest active fires. at Canada There is again significantly more: in the past two days alone, 50 more fires have broken out, according to the authorities, and about 300 are currently raging in the area. Train connections have also been cut for fire safety reasons: trains are a frequent cause of wildfires due to uncontrolled flying sparks due to poor maintenance.
The fires broke out after visiting the area for the second time in weeks She was seriously affected by high temperatures. Drought, which scientists attribute to climate change, also helps make fires more dangerous.
The largest fire in the United States, the so-called “Bootleg Fire”, broke out in the southwest of the US state OregonNot far from the California border. It doubled over the weekend and, according to the fire department, threatened about 2,000 homes. At least seven homes and more than 40 other buildings were burnt.
The National Weather Service recently assumed that the heat wave is now peaking in many areas.
Excessive heat warnings should largely end on Tuesday.