Widespread Fire in California Claims Lives of Two Firefighters

The California Fire Department announced that two of its personnel lost their lives while combating a widespread fire near the city of Redding in the northern part of the state. Due to the spread of the flames, many residents were forced to flee the city, with numerous homes and businesses burned and power lines cut. According to Reuters, the extent of the fire increased by about 60 percent overnight, covering 18,000 hectares. State officials announced on Friday the death of the second firefighter and stated that only 3 percent of the fire's perimeter has been contained, with around 500 homes at risk. The fire has spread eastward from the towns of Whiskeytown and Shasta, crossing the Sacramento River and now threatening the city of Redding, which has a population of 90,000. Fire officials say the fire started on Monday due to a technical malfunction in a vehicle. With wind speeds expected to reach 40 kilometers per hour and temperatures at 43 degrees Celsius, the fire's extent may increase. A spokesperson for the regional fire department stated, "Given the high temperatures, stress, and fatigue caused by the heat of the fire, the work of firefighters is very difficult, and the impact of this high temperature reduces our effectiveness." This fire is just one of 88 fires currently occurring across the United States, particularly in the western regions. According to statistics from the firefighting center, an area of 1.6 million hectares has burned this year, slightly above the ten-year average. Reuters adds that severe traffic jams occurred last night due to people fleeing the area on roads north of Sacramento. Officials report that so far, 65 buildings have been completely destroyed and 55 others have been damaged, with about 5,000 more at risk. Some residents have decided to stay in their homes and combat the flames with high-pressure water hoses. A local Red Cross employee told ABC News that about 500 people in the city of Shasta have been evacuated and temporarily housed in the local high school. City officials announced that power transmission has been cut in some neighborhoods. Currently, two other large fires are ongoing in California's natural environment. According to officials, a fire in the Cranston area, located 180 kilometers east of Los Angeles, has burned over 4,600 hectares, with only 3 percent of the fire's perimeter contained. Another fire in the Ferguson area near Yosemite National Park has burned over 18,000 hectares, with about 29 percent of the fire's perimeter contained. Two weeks ago, a firefighter lost his life in the Ferguson fire operation due to a bulldozer overturning, and seven other firefighters were injured.