- Wildfires have killed at least six people
- Prisons overwhelmed by Covid outbreaks and approaching fires
- Firefighters stretched thin as blazes grow rapidly
- Opinion: The climate crisis has already arrived. Just look to California’s abnormal wildfires
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3.28pm BST
More on the death toll too, from the Associated Press:
The death toll already had reached at least five.
Daniel Berlant, an assistant deputy director with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, said three civilians died in Napa county and one died in neighboring Solano county since the fires began. Solano county sheriff Thomas A Ferrara reported the death of a male resident there.
3.00pm BST
The Associated Press has an update on weather conditions in California that might affect the spread of the fires, and efforts to fight them, today:
Although temperatures were predicted to ease slightly on Friday, they were also expected to be hot enough so that firefighters will not be able to count on cool evening weather aiding them. Erratic winds also could drive the fires unpredictably in multiple directions, state fire officials said.
“There’s so much heat in these fires that they create their own wind … and they may blow in any direction, and very erratically,” said Daniel Berlant, an assistant deputy director with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire.
Continue reading…Wildfires have killed at least six peoplePrisons overwhelmed by Covid outbreaks and approaching firesFirefighters stretched thin as blazes grow rapidlyOpinion: The climate crisis has already arrived. Just look to California’s abnormal wildfiresSign up to our First Thing newsletter 3.28pm BSTMore on the death toll too, from the Associated Press:The death toll already had reached at least five.Daniel Berlant, an assistant deputy director with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, said three civilians died in Napa county and one died in neighboring Solano county since the fires began. Solano county sheriff Thomas A Ferrara reported the death of a male resident there. 3.00pm BSTThe Associated Press has an update on weather conditions in California that might affect the spread of the fires, and efforts to fight them, today:Although temperatures were predicted to ease slightly on Friday, they were also expected to be hot enough so that firefighters will not be able to count on cool evening weather aiding them. Erratic winds also could drive the fires unpredictably in multiple directions, state fire officials said.“There’s so much heat in these fires that they create their own wind … and they may blow in any direction, and very erratically,” said Daniel Berlant, an assistant deputy director with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire. Continue reading…