California wildfires scorch over 4 million acres [Video]

• As the fire season comes to an end, the wildfires have surpassed previous records for the most land burned in a year.
• California’s fire authorities said around 4 million acres have been destroyed since the year started, compared to the 1.67 million acres that were burned down in 2018.
• Despite the dismal record, the strong winds and high temperatures expected in recent days have not occurred.

With just about two months remaining in the fire season, the deadly California wildfires have reached a record high Sunday for the most land burned in a year in the state.

Officials at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said the 4 million acres that had been devastated by over 8,200 wildfires since the start of this year is twice the record two years ago when 1.67 million acres (2,609 square miles) were burned down.

“The 4 million mark is unfathomable. It boggles the mind, and it takes your breath away,” said Scott McLean, a Cal Fire spokesman.

Roughly 17,000 firefighters are still battling almost two dozen major infernos across the state.

But amid the depressing milestone are positive events that emerged this weekend.

Expected strong winds that can intensify the flames, as well as warnings for hot, dry, and gusty weather, have not surfaced in recent days. In some areas, clearer skies have allowed aircraft to drop retardants after being held off by previous smoky conditions.

Mclean said, “If the weather does what is predicted, we’re on that glide path I hope. But that doesn’t diminish the amount of work that still needs to be done.”

Most of the destructive fires in Northern California have been driven by the many dead trees that dotted its hills and mountains amid high temperatures, lightning strikes, and powerful winds. 

Five of the six biggest fires in state history have incinerated hundreds of homes, caused 31 deaths, and razed thousands of acres of land. The gray smoke from the fires had rendered the air in several hill communities and major cities in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, hazy and polluted.  

Scientists have pointed to climate change as the culprit for bigger wildfires in America. They said studies have found the burning of coal, oil, and gas has made California much drier.

Meanwhile, the Glass Fire that had been blazing through Napa County for the past week was only 17% contained on Sunday. Fire authorities said three fires that merged into one, driven by winds and high temperatures, have been burning vineyards and forested mountain areas. Thousands of residents including all those from Calistoga were under evacuation orders.

Source: CBS News