(Newswire.net— September 15, 2020) — At Least 35 People Have Died and Toxic Smoke is Threatening Millions on the West Coast, the Washington Post reports.
While experts agree that the wildfires are due to climate change, President Donald Trump, who is touring California on Monday, blamed poor management of forests for the fires currently raging in Nevada.
At least 35 people have been killed and dozens are missing in wildfires off the west coast of the United States. The fires, which engulfed California, Oregon, and the state of Washington, burned more than 1.5 million hectares of land and destroyed thousands of homes and several smaller cities.
Firefighters who are combating the fire on the west coast are preparing for even more dangerous conditions. In California, where more than a million hectares have been burned – that is, an area the size of Connecticut – wind gusts of up to 56 kilometers per hour are expected, which will further ignite fires that are already spreading rapidly.
One of the fires near Los Angeles quickly spread on Sunday, which is why an evacuation order was issued.
Overnight, two more victims of the fire were found near the city of Chico, in the northern part of California, which increased the number of fire victims in that state to at least 24.
“We no longer have firefighters or equipment,” said one citizen.
In Oregon, meanwhile, six cities were burned and at least 10 people were killed.
“People are dying. Houses are destroyed. This is horrible,” an Oregon resident told local media. She said that her 92-year-old aunt Mary Joyner called her on the phone and begged her to save her. But she couldn’t. Her aunt was one of the victims of the devastation brought on by the fires.
The city of Talent in Oregon is almost completely destroyed. The fire also burned a fire truck.
“There was nothing we could do, it was all in vain. We used all the water we had, but it didn’t help,” said one resident.
Toxic smoke has covered several major cities and endangered the health of millions of people. San Francisco residents are advised not to leave their houses. Portland’s air quality is the worst in the world.
“The debate on climate change is over. Just come to California and see for yourself,” said Gavin Newsom, the governor of California.
President Donald Trump, who is touring California on Monday, blamed poor management of forests for the fires in Nevada: “I talked to people in Oregon, Washington, they’ve never seen anything like this. It all has to do with forest management.” “Remember those words, it’s very simple. Caring for forests.”
Officials in the state of Washington and Oregon dispute the president’s claims.
“It’s really crazy, that when we have this incredible problem in our communities, when the whole American West Coast is burning, that the president denies that these are not just forest fires, but also climate fires. And if this is not a sign for the United States to do something, then I don’t know what it is, “said Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington.
Some activists criticize Trump’s Democratic opponent, Joe Biden because climate change is not one of his priorities in the presidential campaign. Biden issued a statement over the weekend calling for urgent action against the problem.