Sam Shueh
SamShuehRealtor@gmail.com
August 5, 2015
Firefighters in steep terrain and rugged conditions in California are fighting nearly two dozen wildfires that have torched more than 134,000 acres, according to state fire officials.
That's nearly three times the state's 5-year wildfire average of 48,153 acres for this time of year, according to statistics posted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
At 60,000 acres, the Rocky Fire is the largest ongoing blaze. It's led to evacuation orders for more than 13,000 people as it feeds on drought-parched vegetation that hasn't seen fire in many years, according to Cal Fire. The fire which covers Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties northwest of Sacramento was 20% contained.
Last year the two weeks since it ignited, about 2,000 firefighters have battled the blaze. Nearly half of them — 900 — are inmates with California Department of Corrections. They receive $2 per day wage for fighting fires. Watch this video Inmates help to put out fires
Comments (6)Subscribe to CommentsComment