Fires prompt state of emergency

By OC Tribune Staff on September 7, 2020 • ( Leave a comment )

CALIFORNIA has been hit by huge summer wildfires for several years. Above, a blaze outside of Redwood City in 2017 (Flickr/Bob Dass).

A state of emergency was declared today (Monday) by California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state was hit by hundreds of wildfires this weekend in the middle of a heat wave.

The proclamation covers the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Napa, Nevada, Lake, Solano, Yolo and Monterey.

There are multiple causes for the blazes, ranging from lightning strikes, temperatures soaring past 100 in many areas and even – in one case – the use of a smoke generator at a “gender reveal” party near Oak Glen.

All told, more than a million acres have been burned, according to United Press International. Several deaths have also been reported as well as injuries and the evacuations of people in the path of the blazes.

Will Labor Day lead to COVID surge?

The last surge of new coronavirus cases came in the wake of many people flouting safe practices on Memorial Day weekend, health officials say.

CORONAVIRUS

Now, some similar issues are prompting concern this Labor Day weekend.

“Please, please do not make the same mistakes we all made on Memorial Day weekend,” said Dr. Paul Rino, state health director in the Orlando, Florida area, according to the Associated Press. “Wear your masks, watch your distance and wash your hands.”

Many public events have either been cancelled, moved online or scaled down. A NASCAR race in South Carolina held in a stadium that seats 47,000 people was approved, but only 8,000 socially distanced fans were admitted.

Weather not quite as hot but still ….

“Hot” is a relative term when temperatures are soaring past the 100 mark in some areas of West Orange County. Today (Monday) has been sunny with a high of 95, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight’s low is forecast to be 68. For Tuesday, the high should dip to 84 during the day, and then a low of 68 that night. Wednesday should see hotter temps rising to 96, and then slipping a bit to 91 on Thursday.