Story at a glance
- Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an emergency order on Tuesday to help public resources combat multiple wildfires.
- Weather phenomenons like summer thunderstorms and firenados have also been seen.
Following weeks of wildfires and heatwaves, California has declared a state of emergency as dozens of fires continue to ravage the state.
CNBC reports that at least 27 fires are burning statewide. Other weather conditions have exacerbated the wildfires, including a heat wave, a summer thunderstorm that sparked more fires from lightning, and even a ‘firenado’ — a phenomenon where rising hot air from a fire meets winds changing direction, similar to a standard tornado. Compounding this deadly weather are mass blackouts that are affecting millions of Californians as high temperatures have pushed the state’s energy grid to its limits.
ANTARCTIC GLACIER RETREATED 3 MILES IN 22 YEARS
WE DON’T BELONG ON MARS, WE HAVEN’T LANDED ON EARTH YET
HALF THE WORLD’S SANDY BEACHES COULD BE WASHED AWAY BY CLIMATE CHANGE
10 THINGS WE CAN ALL DO ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
The declaration of emergency, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday, will allow government agencies to utilize extra resources to combat the flames and support public safety.
“California and its federal and local partners are working in lockstep to meet the challenge and remain vigilant in the face of continued dangerous weather conditions,” Newsom said.
The rolling blackouts have prompted Newsom to call for a state probe into how the blackouts happened. He also signed an emergency proclamation that allows select energy users to use backup generators and other energy sources as the blackouts continue.
This natural disaster comes as California is still struggling to contain the coronavirus. The Golden State leads the U.S. in coronavirus cases, with a confirmed 640,290 cases.
REPORTS OF DOLPHINS AND SWANS IN VENICE CANALS GO VIRAL DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
CORONAVIRUS SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL ABOUT OUR TREATMENT OF THE ANIMAL WORLD
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SUSPENDS PARK ENTRANCE FEES AMID CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Published on Aug 19,2020