At least 6 people have been killed in the Californian forest fires that have been raging since Thursday, as the state remains strapped for resources. Several hundred homes are under the threat of being set ablaze by these fires, as the forest fire refuses to die down, despite desperate attempts by the State to extinguish it. The fires had reportedly been triggered by a strike of lightning, which set forth a domino effect that caused a significant area that was densely populated with trees to catch fire.
Winds have been lashing out in the area, making it difficult for the firemen operating in the area to safely evacuate people from there. Despite mass evacuation orders in surrounding areas authorities have resisted calls to evacuate the two prisons: California Medical Facility (CMF) and Solano state prison. Notably, there was an influx of COVID cases reported in the latter only recently.
Although temperatures were predicted to ease slightly on Friday, they were also expected to be hot enough so that firefighters will not be able to count on cool evening weather aiding them. Erratic winds also could drive the fires unpredictably in multiple directions, state fire officials said. Nearly 50,000 people were ordered evacuated in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.
According to Reuters, plumes of smoke and ash fouled air quality for hundreds of miles around the fire zones, adding to the misery and health risks of residents.