![]() Two firefighters have also died while working on the fire. That 94,331-acre flame is now in its 26th day and promoted Yosemite National Park officials to close the popular Yosemite Valley for the first time in 20 years - during peak tourism season. Down in Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park, thousands of firefighters are still battling the stubborn Ferguson fire. Sparked by a vehicle failure nearby, the fire has destroyed more than 1,000 homes and taken the lives of at least seven people. More than 160 miles north, the Carr Fire in Redding has burned through 164,413 acres and is 47% contained, as of Tuesday morning. It has now burned 290,692 acres and is just 34% contained, according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). By Monday, the Mendocino Complex fire burning just north of wine country in Northern California became the states largest-ever fire. Thousands of firefighters are currently battling the flames of 14 active fires, which are threatening communities from Redding in Northern California to Orange County in Southern California. “What we’re seeing in California right now is more destructive, larger fires burning at rates that we have historically never seen,” Cal Fire spokesman Jonathan Cox said.Fast-moving and aggressive wildfires are scorching California – killing at least nine people and destroying more than 1,000 homes and businesses. Jerry Brown has issued a grim prediction, warning that massive blazes will cost the state billions of dollars over the next decade. There are at least nine major fires burning in the state, the National Interagency Fire Center said.įirefighters are struggling to stop the blazes, with the Carr Fire 41% contained by Saturday night. said.Ĭalifornia is struggling with an extreme fire season, and the state has spent a quarter of its firefighting budget for the year just in July. ![]() The Carr Fire, named after the location where it began, has burned more than 1,500 structures to the ground and is one of 17 major wildfires stretching state resources, Gov. Smoke from the Carr and Ferguson fires can be seen in satellite images. “We wanted to show our gratitude for fighting to save our city,” said Redding resident Nichole Grubbs-Miller, who posted some of the signs. “Best first responders ever! Our heroes,” one sign read. Some have posted handwritten signs all over the city. To show their appreciation to firefighters and emergency personnel, Northern California communities are offering them food, water, even free haircuts. Of the seven people killed in the Carr Fire, two were firefighters: Jeremy Stoke, who was helping evacuate people, and an unidentified bulldozer operator killed while fighting the flames. Other firefighters lost their lives while trying to save others. “Once I saw my house gone … there’s going to be plenty of time to go back through the remains and see what we can salvage.” “I don’t feel that I did anything special,” he said of continuing to work despite losing his home. He took a picture of the charred debris where his house once stood and continued fighting the blaze, at times working 24-hour shifts with some of the nearly 5,000 firefighters battling it. As he flew over his neighborhood this week, he realized his home had burned to ashes, too. ![]() Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Imagesįirefighter David Spliethof was doing his job as a spotter pilot, flying over the fiery chaos to assess damage and flag trouble. The Carr Fire spread toward the towns of Douglas City and Lewiston near Redding, California. “I tried to call them back and it just went to nothing,” Bledsoe said as he wept. His wife and the two children were among the seven people killed in the Carr Fire. ![]() But the roads were congested and the heat and flames so intense, the area near his house was cordoned off. “He just kept saying, ‘Grandpa, Come get me … come on, Grandpa,’ ” Ed Bledsoe said. James took the phone and pleaded with his great-grandfather to hurry up and save them. She begged him to come get her and their great-grandchildren: Emily Roberts, 4, and James Roberts, 5. While he was out, his wife, Melody Bledsoe, 70, called and told him the fire was getting closer to their home. At the time, it had burned for three days, but away from his neighborhood. The Shasta County resident had left home to see a doctor, unaware of the fire’s erratic movement. ![]() Ed Bledsoe lost his wife and their two great-grandchildren in the fire, all within 15 minutes. ![]()
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