According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire in rural San Luis Obispo County grew to nearly 80,000 acres on Friday night, making it the largest in California, the largest this year.
The Madre Fire began on Wednesday around 1pm, east of Santa Maria, near the town of Newcayuma. More than 200 people have been subject to forced evacuation orders, with around 50 structures under threat on Saturday morning. One building burned. The cause of the fire, which is fueled by fire and wind, contains about 10%.
Most of the fires have threatened Kariso Plain National Monument, home to several endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species.
“This is a highly populated area,” said Andrew Madsen, a spokesman for the Los Padres National Forest. “As long as we maintain fire north of Highway 166, we will avoid it from residential areas.”
Over 600 firefighters and nearly 50 fire engines are available to handle the flames. As far as conditions allow, several air tankers are also fighting the fire. The Los Padres National Forest, Cal Fire San Luis Obispo and the Bureau of Land Management share jurisdiction over fires.
The Madre Fire is more than three times more than the Palisade Fire, which burned 23,000 acres, killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures in Los Angeles County Coastal County nearly six months ago. The Eton Fire in Altadena torched 14,000 acres and killed 18 people before disappearing.
A heat wave is expected from Tuesday through Friday in Southern California, raising new concerns about the risk of a fire. The peak is expected mid-week, with high temperatures expected from 98 to 108 degrees Celsius in the lower peaks, valleys and deserts.
Source link
