After extreme heat, California is now dealing with massive wildfires

Weeks of extreme heat in the western United States have come to an end for now. Several temperature records have been broken recently in places like California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The temperature reached more than 40 degrees in many places.

Heat is now moving eastward toward the Midwest and East Coast of the United States. Cities like New York, Washington and Baltimore have also been warned of temperatures approaching 40 degrees. Tens of thousands of Americans have been affected by the heat, although it’s not uncommon in some parts of the country this year.

Three hikers die of heatstroke in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. During a hike, the group got lost and ran out of water. They managed to alert the emergency services themselves, but in the end help came too late.

While the extreme heat in California seems to have died down for the time being, wildfires are still a big problem in the West Coast state. According to the fire department, five times more land has now been destroyed than the average for this year. Many fires are burning, especially in the north of the state and north of Los Angeles.

More than 3,500 wildfires have so far burned nearly 90 square kilometers. The fire chief says the heat wave and resulting drought have exacerbated the problem. “We’re no longer in wildfire season, but in a wildfire year. We have to be extra careful.” One person has died in the fire so far.

An exceptionally wet winter in California has contributed to the wildfires now raging. Rains have left many areas in the state covered with grass. When it dries out in the spring, the grass is more susceptible to fire. Wind also plays an important role in the spread of fire.

Huge wildfires are raging in Oregon and Hawaii. Last week, part of a nature park in Hawaii was closed. The fire brigade is doing its best to contain the fire from residential areas, however residents should take evacuation into account. More than 200 homes on the island of Kauai are threatened by the fire. Residents have been evacuated.

Last summer, the island of Maui in Hawaii experienced its worst wildfire in more than a century. More than 100 people died and about 3,000 houses were destroyed.