Western fires burn area the size of Connecticut.
Burned area nearly equal in size to Connecticut
SHAVER LAKE, Calif. – Heavy winds sweeping across the West fueled fastgrowing wildfires Wednesday and forced mass evacuations as firefighters battled to protect lives, homes and businesses.
More than 90 major fires that have burned more than 5,300 square miles – almost the size of Connecticut – were raging in 13 Western states, according to a count by the National Fire Information Center. Thick smoke obliterated the sun in some areas, distant flames turning the sky orange in others.
Northern and Central California were under siege as Diablo winds fanned the flames of historic fires burning virtually uncontrolled.
The Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest destroyed more than 350 structures and forced evacuation of over 30,000 people in Fresno and Madera counties, authorities said.
That includes scores of people evacuated by California National Guard and Navy pilots who completed eight trips to the wilderness, bringing back dozens of people each time, Fresno County Lt. Brandon Purcell said.
In Shaver Lake, the destruction included Cressman’s General Store, a landmark dating to 1904. Dozens of homes burned, the flames charring them down to foundations and chimneys and melting away tires and paint from vehicles. The fire spared the Pine Ridge Elementary School although it burned a nearby school bus.
Unfavorable weather conditions were expected to last until Thursday.
“We understand what you’re going through,” Incident Commander Marty Adell said. “A lot of us come from fireprone areas. We’ve been in this business for a long time . ... We are going to try everything in our power to get you back into the areas you call home.”
In the Los Padres National Forest on California’s central coast, about 15 firefighters suffered burns and smoke inhalation after deploying emergency shelters as the Dolan Fire destroyed a fire station, Incident Commander Rob Allen said.
Three were flown to a hospital in Fresno. Allen said one suffered critical injuries and another serious injuries.
Fires were also blazing in Southern California, and the state already has seen a record 3,600 square miles burn this year. Winds were also driving wildfires in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
In Oregon, a series of fires forced residents to flee. In Marion County, a Detroit evacuee wondered what she and neighbors had left behind.
“Fire on both sides, winds blowing, ash flying. It was like driving through hell,” Jody Evans told Newschannel 21. “Did you lose everything, or is the only thing you saved yourself?”
Social media posts across the West displayed pictures of orange or smokedarkened skies and ash falling like rain on cars, homes and communities.