California Wildfire Area Larger than the Combined Areas of New York and Boston

As the second week of the widespread wildfire in Southern California begins due to strong winds, lack of rain, and dry grasslands, fire department officials are preparing for the expansion of the fire and increased danger. The area of this wildfire has been described in some reports, including CNN, as larger than the combined areas of New York and Boston. According to the Associated Press, on Sunday, as the flames spread towards coastal cities northwest of Los Angeles, residents in these areas were forced to evacuate. Residents of coastal areas in Santa Barbara also left the region. A spokesperson for the regional fire department stated, 'Currently, the wind is blowing in various directions. In some areas, smoke rises into the sky, but in others, the wind blows sideways.' The fierce winds of Southern California, known as Santa Ana, have always been a major factor in the spread of catastrophic wildfires in the wilderness. This wind blows from the central regions towards the Pacific coast and gains speed as it passes through mountains and deep valleys. According to the weather service's forecast, the wind speed on Monday is expected to reach about 60 kilometers per hour. On Sunday, some of the fires around Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego were contained. As a result, some fire units were dispatched to the Santa Barbara hills. The area of the wildfire in this region, which began on December 4, covers approximately 700 square kilometers. By the end of Sunday, this wildfire, named Thomas, had destroyed about 790 buildings and facilities. Fires at this time of year are not common in Southern California, but under the influence of Santa Ana winds and the lack of rain and dry grasslands, they may occur. Although spring rainfall ended a year of drought in the region, it has now been about six months since any rain has fallen. California's Democratic Governor Jerry Brown warned on Saturday after visiting the affected areas that 'this will be the new normal for the region.' He and experts believe that due to climate change, wildfires may occur year-round from now on. The period of high fire risk is expected to continue until January. The Associated Press adds that even residents of some areas that have not been ordered to evacuate have left due to heavy smoke and concerns that the coastal highway may be blocked again. Authorities have distributed masks among residents of the affluent Montecito neighborhood, where some movie and television stars live. The intensity of smoke in the Ojai area had reached dangerous levels, and authorities warned that the air in a wide area of the region is severely polluted, urging people to stay indoors and avoid outdoor exercise and physical activity. In San Diego, located 210 kilometers to the south, 75% of the fire has been contained. Despite the extensive area and numerous fires in the region, only one person has lost their life so far. A 70-year-old woman was killed in a car accident while evacuating the area. Most of the fires last week occurred in areas that had burned previously, including the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, where six homes were burned, and the Santa Paula neighborhood located in the hills overlooking the city.