Senior Trump Officials Survey California Fire Devastation
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published August 14, 2018 | 03:36 AM
Lake Elsinore, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :Senior members of the Trump administration were due in California Monday as blazes that have killed at least eight people continued to cut a catastrophic swathe through the country's most populous state.
Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes over the last month, with more than 14 blazes still threatening land and property from south of Los Angeles to the state's border with Oregon.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke -- wrapping a two-day tour of the Carr Fire's path to the west of Redding, northern California -- will meet rescuers alongside Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
Firefighters made progress on the inferno, which has destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other property, over the weekend, according to Federal and local government data.
But the 203,000-acre (82,000-hectare) blaze is still less than two-thirds contained after killing eight people and prompting the evacuation of 40,000.
The temperatures have remained in double digits but emergency workers say they are bracing for hotter weather, dry air and gusty winds over the coming days.
Around 130 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Redding, the Mendocino Complex wildfire, California's largest in history, has scorched 345,000 acres.
The blaze is made up of the Ranch and River fires which were respectively 59 percent and 93 percent contained by Monday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Zinke's visit with Perdue comes days after President Donald Trump suggested that California's environmental policies had deprived firefighters of water and left too many trees that could fuel fires.
Some activists have acknowledged that many of the state's forests are too dense and require more aggressive management but Cal Fire officials have stated they have enough water.
Other experts have added that California's most destructive blazes have started in shrublands, not thick forests, and that the devastating fire season has been lengthened by climate change.
Zinke angered activists by downplaying the importance of global warming in wildfire management as he began his California visit on Sunday.
"I've heard the climate change argument back and forth," he said in an interview with television station KCRA 3.
"This has nothing to do with climate change. This has to do with active forest management."Fourteen of California's 20 largest wildfires have started since 2003 -- a period boasting some of the hottest, driest years on record in the US.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Delegation of international investors meets Finance Minister
Federal Govt stands with Balochistan for its development: Naqvi
UAE President receives condolences of Prime Minister of Pakistan over passing of ..
ECC approves to enhance wheat procurement targets
UN urges Israel to 'stop escalation' as tanks enter Gaza's Rafah city
EU stumps up $125 mn for Yemen after aid groups' plea
Governor Tessori condemns May 9 riots, calls it a 'pre-planned conspiracy'
PM condoles with UAE President over Sheikh Tahnoun’s death
Milan nets Giro 4th stage, Pogacar retains lead
UBS back in profit after Credit Suisse takeover losses
Asiya Gul lauds Shafaat's services as DG LG
President for dialogue with all political forces in Balochistan
More Stories From World
-
Slovakia records 1,100 bomb threats in a day, launches terror probe
1 hour ago -
Football: UEFA Champions League result
1 hour ago -
Equipment of Pakistani peacekeepers begins to move out as UN mission to D.R. Congo ends
2 hours ago -
Ramos joins Mbappe and Dembele in PSG attack against Dortmund
3 hours ago -
Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund Champions League starting line-ups
3 hours ago -
Saudi transportation, logistic sector ready for smooth Hajj pilgrimage
3 hours ago
-
Italy PM Meloni signs cooperation deals in Libya visit
3 hours ago -
Brazilians queue for precious water as flood damage intensifies
3 hours ago -
UAE President receives condolences of Prime Minister of Pakistan over passing of Tahnoun bin Mohamme ..
4 hours ago -
UN urges Israel to 'stop escalation' as tanks enter Gaza's Rafah city
3 hours ago -
EU stumps up $125 mn for Yemen after aid groups' plea
3 hours ago -
China voices serious concern over Israel's plan to launch military operation against Rafah
5 hours ago