Trump vows support to wildfire victims
Santa Rosa, California, Oct. 11: Firefighters battling wildfires in California’s wine country face the prospect of new outbreaks when dry, windy conditions return on Wednesday to an area where at least 17 people have been killed and 2,000 homes and businesses destroyed in blazes.
Gusts of up to 80 kph and 10 per cent humidity are forecast for later on Wednesday and into Thursday for the region where 17 fires have forced 20,000 people to flee their homes, fire officials said.
“The potential for new fires that could grow exponentially as these fires did in such a short time period is there,” said Lynne Tolmachoff, spokeswoman for California department of forestry and fire protection. The weather gave firefighters a reprieve on Tuesday as cooler temperatures, lower winds and coastal fog allowed them to make headway against the fires that had burned 115,000 acres.
Some evacuations in Nevada and Yuba counties in western California were lifted on Tuesday while other evacuations to the east in Sonoma and Napa counties, where more than 50,000 acres burned, were expanded, Tolmachoff said.
Some 155 people were still missing in Sonoma County, although 45 others had been found and some of those unaccounted for may be due to confusion surrounding evacuations.
The city of Santa Rosa was particularly hard hit by the so-called Tubbs Fire, which damaged a Hilton hotel and destroyed a mobile home park.
Irene Fonzeca and her husband Luis were spending their second night in shelter on Tuesday after the couple woke up to raging fire nearby that was being blown toward their home on Monday.
The sound of fiery trees crashing down was terrifying, Luis said.
“We have no idea what’s there or if there’s anything to go back to,” Irene Fonzeca said outside the shelter holding a breathing mask as smoke and light ash blanketed downtown Santa Rosa. Washington, Oct. 11: United States President Donald Trump has said the federal government will be there for the people of California as devastating wildfires sweep across the state’s famed wine country.
Mr Trump said he spoke with California governor Jerry Brown last night to let him know that the federal government will stand with the people of California.
“We will be there for you in this time of terrible tragedy and need,” he We will be there for you in this time of terrible tragedy and need
Donald Trump,
said.
At least 17 people died and 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures destroyed in the wildfires in northern California.
The US President added he is also continuing to pray for those grieving and wounded in the Las Vegas mass shooting and thinking of the people affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. “We have to never forget,” he said.
Seventeen wildfires raging across parts of seven counties have destroyed more than 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures. The wildfires rank among the five deadliest in California history, and officials expect the death toll to rise as the scope of destruction is clear.