California asks Trump for aid as state battles 17 fires
SAN FRANCISCO: Governor Jerry Brown called on President Donald Trump to help California fight and recover from another devastating wildfire season.
Brown, who inspected neighbourhoods wiped out by a wildfire in the Northern California city of Redding, said he was confident the president he has clashed with over immigration and pollution policies would send aid, which Trump did last year when California’s wine country was hit hard.
“The president has been pretty good on helping us in disasters, so I’m hopeful,” said Brown, a Democrat.
Brown’s call for help came shortly before authorities called on residents in Glenn and Colusa counties to evacuate as a wildfire there continues to grow.
Cal Fire issued the evacuation order on Saturday night for people who live in several parts of the counties, including an area just east of the boundary of Mendocino National Forest.
The blaze, known as the Mendocino Complex fire, has grown to 924sq km and is 32% contained, according to Cal Fire.
There are 17 major fires burning throughout California.
In all, they have destroyed hun dreds of homes, killed eight people – including four firefighters – and shut down Yosemite National Park.
Hundreds of colleagues, family and friends attended a memorial service on Saturday in Fresno for National Forest Service Capt Brian Hughes, the Fresno Bee reported.
Hughes was killed on July 29 by a falling tree while fighting the fire that has closed the national park at the height of tourist season.