Historic drought fuels blazes across Northeast as wildfires burn on both coasts
Firefighters on both coasts were battling wildland blazes Monday after thousands of acres burned in New Jersey amid a historic drought and after strong winds last week sent a blaze howling through Ventura County, California.
Firefighters on both coasts were battling wildland blazes Monday after thousands of acres burned in New Jersey amid a historic drought and after strong winds last week sent a blaze howling through Ventura County, California.
The late-season fires, which come just a few weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, are a reminder that wildfires are quickly becoming a year-round hazard in the U.S.
In California, the so-called Mountain Fire in Ventura County had grown to 20,630 acres, or 32 square miles, and was only 36% contained Monday evening, according to CAL Fire, the state agency responsible for fire protection. About 2,800 people were working to contain the blaze, which has damaged or destroyed nearly 250 structures since it started Wednesday.
Ventura County Fire Capt. Tony McHale said the blaze was initially pushed by the famous Santa Ana winds, which roared through at 60 mph and gusted up to 80 mph.
In such challenging conditions, "it’s like trying to put a blowtorch out with a squirt gun," McHale said.
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