Wildfires in Northern California have blazed across 10,500 acres since the weekend.
On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Lake County, the location of the largest fire, which is about 120 miles north of San Francisco. While no casualties have been reported, the fires have destroyed at least 22 buildings, and 600 more lie in danger.
The state also ordered mandatory evacuation for residents of Spring Valley and strongly encouraged Double Eagle Ranch residents to evacuate as well. So far,at least 3,000 residents have left their homes.
More than 200 personnel from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Forest Service, and the California Conservation Corps have been monitoring the fires. According to Cal Fire, the Pawnee Fire, which is the main blaze, is 5 percent contained. Containment refers to the process of surrounding flames with equipment, such as hoses. Other Western states have shut down their national parks as a precaution, due to severe drought.
The state experienced it’s most destructive fires in 2017, which were caused by high winds, unusually hot weather, and vegetation turned brittle and flammable by drought, according to California officials.
