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Gov Newsom declares state of emergency over Oak Fire in California

A structure burns behind a burned-out vehicle on Jerseydale Street during the Oak Fire in Mariposa County, California, U.S., on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

David Odisho | Bloomberg | beautiful pictures

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park because of the Oak Fire. burned houses, forced thousands of people to evacuate, and closed roads.

When Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday, the fire burned more than 11,500 acres and forced more than 3,000 residents to evacuate. according to a written statement from the Governor’s office.

By Monday morning, the Oak Fire was burning 16,791 acres and already contained 10 percentaccording to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Burned for acres, the Oak Fire was The biggest forest fire of 2022according to public records from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

As dangerous as the Oak Fire is to those on the way, it still doesn’t come close to the biggest wildfire in California history. The August 2020 complex fire burned over one million acres and destroyed 935 structures, according to historical records maintained by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

But the wildfires spread quickly because of hot, dry weather and drought, the Newsom office said in a statement.

And it’s those dry conditions that are dangerous catalysts for some of California’s deadliest wildfires. For Northern California, the wildfire season runs from July to October, according to Western Association of Fire Chiefs, representing fire-related emergency services personnel. The Southern California wildfire season begins as early as May. But wildfires that start late in the season, in September and October, tend to be the most dangerous because they have the driest vegetation built up from the hot summer weather and from strong dry winds blowing through. California in the fall. .

Currently, 100% of Mariposa County residents are affected by drought, according to Federal Drought Information Service, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Hitherto, 2022 is the driest year so far in Mariposa County for 128 years has many records.

While it’s too early to say the exact cause of the Oak fires, there has been previously published research linking California wildfires to climate change. A 2019 study found that from 1972–2018, the burned area increased fivefold and the number of summer wildfires increased eightfold.

“The warming effect is also evident in the fall by increasing the likelihood of the fuel drying out when strong autumn winds occur. The ability of dry fuels to cause large fires is non-linear, which is why This allows warming to become more and more impactful.” Research says. “Human-induced warming has significantly enhanced wildfire activity in California, particularly in the forests of the Sierra Nevada and North Coast, and is likely to continue to do so in the coming decades.” .”

California wildfires hit next week part of Europe burned by wildfires therealso.

In addition, while wildfires raged, US lawmakers have so far been unable to pass Congress on climate legislation, largely stalled by Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia.

Even as the Oak Fire continues to burn, firefighters are starting to make some progress. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection summary reads: “Firefighters did a great job today.

A house burned on Saturday as part of the Oak Fire

A house burns as the Oak Flame moves through the area on July 23, 2022 near Mariposa, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | beautiful pictures

Firefighters try to contain the Oak Fire near Jerseydale Road

Firefighters work to contain a fire to save a structure located near Jerseydale Road during the Oak Fire in Mariposa County, California, U.S., on Sunday, July 24, 2022.

David Odisho | Bloomberg | beautiful pictures

A fire plane drops fire retardant on the Oak Fire

A bird flies as fire fighters drop fire retardant on a hillside to control the burning Oak Fire near Darrah in Mariposa County, California, U.S., July 24, 2022.

Carlos Barria | Reuters

A house burned on Saturday as part of the Oak Fire

A house burns as the Oak Fire burns across the area on July 23, 2022 near Mariposa, California.

Justin Sullivan | beautiful pictures

A fire-fighting oil tanker flies over the ruins of a forest on Sunday

A firefighting oil tanker flies over woods decimated by the Oak Fire near Mariposa, California, on July 24, 2022.

David Mcnew | AFP | beautiful pictures

Helicopters put out a fire in Oak Creek on Sunday.

A fire helicopter walks past the setting sun while fighting the Oak Fire near Mariposa, California, on July 24, 2022.

David Mcnew | AFP | beautiful pictures

A firefighter battles the Oak Creek fire on Sunday.

A firefighter lights a fire while battling the Oak Fire near Mariposa, California, on July 24, 2022.

David Mcnew | AFP | beautiful pictures

A Smokey the Bear fire hazard sign reads “extremely dangerous” Sunday near Jerseydale, California.

Fire burns near the Smokey the Bear fire warning sign as the Oak Fire burns across the area on July 24, 2022 near Jerseydale, California.

Justin Sullivan | beautiful pictures

The flame can be seen from space in this Friday image from the International Space Station

Aerial view from the International Space Station of the Oak Flame near Yosemite National Park, taken from above Yosemite Valley, California, USA, July 22, 2022, in this screenshot taken from a handout video.

Handout Nasa Qua @issaboveyou | Reuters

Aerial view of the fire on Friday

Aerial view from an Oak Fire plane near Yosemite National Park, taken from above Yosemite Valley, California, USA, July 22, 2022.

Matt Garr | Via Reuters

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