More than 2,500 firefighters are still mobilized against the « Mountain Fire »which broke out on Wednesday, November 6 near the town of Camarillo, in the Los Angeles region. Friday, November 8, firefighters gained ground in the face of the blaze.
Its violence forced several thousand people to evacuate this hilly rural area, filled with hills and brush, where around 30,000 people live northwest of Los Angeles. The flames initially spread very quickly thanks to powerful winds, with gusts of up to 130 km/h.
Read also: IN PICTURES. Houses ravaged, residents evacuated… In the United States, California engulfed in flames
State of emergency declared
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the region to help fight the fire. The fire has consumed more than 8,300 hectares, according to the latest bulletin from the CalFire agency. A first estimate of the damage by the authorities shows 132 houses completely destroyed and around 88 badly damaged by the flames.
Improved weather
Friday morning, firefighters reported progress against the flames, thanks to improved weather conditions: the alert linked to the violent winds of recent days was lifted. « The intensity of the fire has moderated due to decreasing winds above the fire »explained the CalFire agency in its latest bulletin.
But the region is not out of the woods yet. « Fire remains a threat to critical infrastructure »she warned. He “burns in steep, rugged terrain, with dry, receptive fuels, which has complicated containment efforts. »
After two rainy winters which provided a relative respite, California is experiencing a very active fire season this year. The vegetation reformed thanks to the precipitation of the last two years has dried up and becomes a powerful fuel.
