California is facing its biggest wildfire of the year as the Madre Fire continues to increase at a rapid speed, triggered by high temperatures and gusty winds. The fire, which erupted on Wednesday in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, has already burned over 82 square miles (212 sq km) of dry grasslands, officials stated on Thursday evening.
As per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), containment stood at just 10% on Thursday night. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for all the small communities near State Route 166. Flames were seen coming out from Carrizo Plain National Monument, an ecologically sensitive place which is known for its springtime wildflower blooms.
According to the latest report, authorities stated that a portion of Route 166 East has been closed down because of the fire activity, and there was no clarification on when it would reopen, as stated by the California Department of Transportation on social media.
Hot, dry conditions escalate the fire’s expansion
Weather conditions have significantly fuelled the fire intensity. Metrologist Ryan Kittel from the National Weather Service explained to the Associated Press that strong afternoon and evening winds are making it tougher for the crew to take control of the situation.
“The winds are pretty light during the day, but they do pick up pretty substantially in the afternoon and evening hours,” Kittell added, as quoted by the Associated Press. He cautioned that the blow could reach up to 40 mph (64 kph) on Thursday. It could further deteriorate the spread of the fire, which the crew has been fighting in temperatures reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).
The Madre Fire is not just one of several wildfires currently blazing across California. In the south, the Wolf Fire has burned more than 3.7 square miles, but 55% has been controlled as of Thursday. Firefighters across the state are bracing for the challenging weekend, with July Fourth celebrations probably adding to the fire risk.