The weakening winds, higher humidity and possibly even rain could be a boon to fighting the mega fires that ravage the west coast of the United States. The weather forecasts are favorable.
A change in the weather is badly needed, because high temperatures and strong winds have allowed wildfires to spread rapidly in many places in the states of California, Oregon and Washington.
The fires that started in August have so far claimed the lives of 24 people. Dozens of people are still missing as rescue workers make their way through at least five villages that have been reduced to ashes.
In Oregon, half a million people must prepare for an evacuation as the fire approaches the metropolis of Portland. A large part has already fled the fire.
Oregon Police warns of fake fire news
The wildfire in Oregon may have started. “We have good reason to believe that this fire has a human element,” the police chief said at a press conference on Thursday. “We consider it a criminal investigation until proven otherwise.”
However, the police are warning of fake news about the cause of the fire. False accusations are appearing on social media from law enforcement officials blaming both left-wing anti-fascists and right-wing Proud Boys.
Portland has been the scene of fierce Black Lives Matter protests since July, partly because US President Donald Trump sent a federal force into the city to keep order.
‘Fires are evidence of climate change’
The massive wildfires ravaging the US west coast are direct evidence that there is a climate crisis. California Governor Gavin Newsom said that on Friday.
“I’m a little tired of having to have this debate all the time. This is a damn climatic emergency,” Newsom said as he visited a flat-burned area.
The Democratic governor is thus contradicting Republican Trump who believes that the fires are the result of not properly maintaining the forests. Newton acknowledges that maintenance could be improved, but he insists that the mega-fires are the direct result of the mega-drought that has been going on for some time.
According to climate scientists, global warming in the western US has caused both the wet and dry seasons to become increasingly extreme. Vegetation that has grown profusely during the wet period dries up, causing fierce fires.
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