Widening climate extremes have plunged the US West Coast into near-constant whiplash between catastrophic floods and raging wildfires.
OROVILLE, California – When a fast-moving wildfire began marching across thousands of acres of Butte County on July 2, Mr David Pittman did not panic. He packed up his family, including their 40kg African sulcata tortoise, and drove to his sister’s house across town in Oroville, California.
In 2020, a record-breaking fire season left millions of acres scorched across California, including “right into the city of Oroville”, Mr Pittman said., burned an area larger than New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas combined. It was sparked by damaged PG&E power lines near the waterway that bisects Oroville, the Feather River., which have plunged the West into near-constant whiplash between catastrophic floods and raging wildfires.
So far, eight injuries have been reported as a result of the blaze. And the authorities have not yet said how many structures have been damaged, though the fire has consumed homes and vehicles, based on news coverage.Heatwaves in Europe are getting more dangerous. Here’s what that means for travellers
“We have up-and-down breezes that are pushing the fire around,” he said. “The fuels are ready to burn. So the crews have a tough job.”Firefighters work near burned vehicles after the Thompson fire affected a neighborhood near Oroville, California. PHOTO: REUTERS “The last thing we need is somebody who’s purchased fireworks from a local fire stand going out and doing something stupid,” Sheriff Kory Honea of Butte County said at a news conference late on July 2. “Don’t be an idiot, cause a fire and create more problems for us.”
“A lot of those cases are still not settled,” he said. “A lot of people that have properties – they’re not going to get what they were owed. So I really didn’t want to leave.”
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Netanyahu disbands war cabinet as pressure grows on Israel's northern borderJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war Cabinet, an Israeli official said on June 17, in a widely expected move that came after the departure from government of the centrist former general Benny Gantz.
Read more »
Rain and shine: Northern China swelters in heatwave as torrential downpours soak the southParts of northern China may see temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above this week, authorities warn. Meanwhile, Guangxi in the south is on high alert as heavy rain bears down.
Read more »
Thousands trapped in northern Myanmar floodingYANGON: Floods in northern Myanmar have trapped thousands of people in their homes and cut electricity and phone lines, residents and local media said on Tuesday (Jul 2), with the state weather office warning of more heavy rain.
Read more »
A new bridge may save California mountain lions under threat from loss of habitat, wildfiresSqueezed into smaller areas, some of these animals die after they end up roaming just outside of the highly populated city of Los Angeles.
Read more »
Attacker of Nancy Pelosi's husband convicted again in California courtA right-wing conspiracy theorist who attacked the husband of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer was convicted of a host of charges in state court on Friday (June 21), following his conviction in federal court last year.
Read more »
Beaches at several southern islands, most of East Coast Park and Tanah Merah cleared of oilThe northern part of Pasir Panjang Terminal has also been cleared of oil slicks.
Read more »