Massive Wildfires Rip Across California

The governor of California is requesting federal aid to help combat the 2nd and 3rd worst wildfires in the state’s history.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been given evacuation orders and even more aid is being requested from 10 states, Canada and Australia.

In all, there are around 560 wildfires raging but the two biggest ones have devastated an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. 6 people have died from the flames, 33 Californians and firefighters have been injured and over 500 buildings have been lost.

According to a press statement by the governor, the wildfires are being caused by lightning strikes.

“These lightning strikes came the exact week that we were experiencing some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in human history – 130-degree temperatures in the southern part of the state of California. These fires are stretching our resources, stretching our personnel.”

Source:
USA Today