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world news Diamars 8 september 2020

California sets record with 2M acres burned so far this year

(AP) — Wildfires have northeast of Fresno. Sher- timber after breaking out Fri-
burned more than 2 million iff's deputies went to her day. The 850 firefighters on
acres in California this year, ranch property to pick up her the scene had yet to get any
setting a state record even 92-year-old mother, Shirley containment.
as crews battled dozens of MacLean. They reunited at On Saturday, rescuers in mil-
growing blazes in sweltering an evacuation center.“I hope itary helicopters airlifted 207
temperatures Monday that like heck the fire doesn't people to safety after flames
strained the electrical grid reach my little ranch,” Rios trapped them in a wooded
and threatened power out- said. “It’s not looking good camping near Mammoth
ages for millions. right now. It’s an awfully big Pool Reservoir. Record-
The most striking thing fire.” breaking temperatures were
about the record is how ear- Mountain roads were filled driving the highest power use
ly it was set, with the most with cars and trucks leav- of the year, and transmission
dangerous part of the year ing the community of about losses because of wildfires
ahead, said Lynne Tolma- 2,300 people. have cut into supplies. The
choff, spokeswoman for the Firefighters working in steep California Independent Sys-
California Department of terrain saved the tiny town of tem Operator that manages smaller in size, shorter in triple digits. Downtown Los
Forestry and Fire Protection, Shaver Lake from flames that the state’s power grid warned length and smarter for cus- Angeles reached 111 degrees
or Cal Fire.“It’s a little un- roared down hillsides toward of possible power outages if tomers.” (44 Celsius) on Sunday and a
nerving because September a marina. About 30 houses residents didn’t curtail their In Southern California, record-shattering high of 121
and October are historically were destroyed in the remote electricity usage. None have crews scrambled to douse degrees (49.4 Celsius) was re-
our worst months for fires,” hamlet of Big Creek, accord- yet to occur. several fires that roared to corded in the nearby Wood-
she said. “It’s usually hot, and ing to resident Toby Wait. The weather was predicted life in searing temperatures, land Hills neighborhood of
the fuels really dry out. And “About half the private homes to cool later in the day, but including one that closed the San Fernando Valley. It
we see more of our wind in town burned down,” he the weather change also was mountain roads in Angeles was the highest temperature
events.” said. “Words cannot even be- expected to bring winds that National Forest and forced ever recorded in Los Angeles
The previous high was 1.96 gin to describe the devasta- could fan wildfires. the evacuation of Mount County, according to the Na-
million acres (793,184 hect- tion of this community.” Pacific Gas & Electric warned Wilson Observatory. Cal tional Weather Service.
ares) burned in 2018. Cal Fire A school, church, library, his- it might cut power start- Fire said a blaze in San Ber- Meanwhile, downtown San
began tracking the numbers toric general store and a ma- ing late Monday to about nardino County called the El Francisco set a record for the
in 1987.Firefighters strug- jor hydroelectric plant were 158,000 customers in parts Dorado Fire started Saturday day with a high of 100 (37.7
gled to corral several danger- spared in the community of of 21 Northern California morning and was caused by a Celsius) on Sunday, smash-
ous blazes ahead of dry, hot about 200 residents, Wait told counties because of the in- smoke-generating pyrotech- ing the previous mark by 5
winds predicted to raise fire the Fresno Bee. creased fire danger. Some of nic device used by a couple to degrees.
danger to critical levels in the Sheriff's deputies went door the state’s largest and deadli- reveal their baby's gender. Cal Fire said 14,800 firefight-
coming days. Evacuation or- to door to make sure residents est fires in recent years have In eastern San Diego County, ers were battling 23 major
ders were expanded to more were complying with orders been sparked by downed a fire destroyed at least 10 fires in the state. California
mountain communities as to leave. Officials hoped to power lines and other utility structures after burning 16 has seen 900 wildfires since
the largest blaze, the Creek keep the fire from pushing equipment. PG&E received square miles (41.44 square Aug. 15, many of them started
Fire, churned through the Si- west, possibly toward Yosem- criticism for its handling of kilometers) and prompting by an intense series of thou-
erra National Forest. Debra ite National Park. previous planned outages. evacuations near the remote sands of lightning strikes.
Rios wasn't home when the The Creek Fire has charred The utility said it has learned community of Alpine. There have been eight fire
order came to evacuate her more than 114 square miles from past problems, “and this Daytime temperatures in fire deaths and more than 3,300
hometown of Auberry, just (295 square kilometers) of year will be making events zones neared or exceeded structures destroyed.

India now 2nd behind US in virus cases amid economic pain

(AP) — India's increasing the virus spreading through only hollowed out India's
coronavirus caseload made the country’s smaller towns economy but also spread the
the Asian giant the world's and villages, the Indian gov- virus to the far reaches of the
second-worst-hit country ernment has continued re- country.
behind the United States on laxing restrictions to try and Now, as cases surge, most
Monday, as its efforts to head resuscitate the economy. of the country, except in
off economic disaster from On Monday, the Delhi high-risk areas, has already
the pandemic gain urgency. Metro, which serves India’s opened up, with authorities
The 90,802 cases added in sprawling capital, New Delhi, saying they have little choice.
the past 24 hours pushed and adjoining areas, resumed “While lives are important,
India’s total past Brazil with operations after remaining livelihoods are equally im-
more than 4.2 million cases. shuttered for more than five portant,” Rajesh Bhushan,
India is now behind only the months. The commuters the top official of India’s
United States, where more were scarce and stations de- federal health ministry, said
than 6.2 million people have serted. Only asymptomatic at a news briefing last week.
been infected, according to people were allowed to board Almost 60% of India’s virus
Johns Hopkins University. the trains, with masks, social cases are now coming from
India’s Health Ministry on distancing and temperature reopen on Wednesday. bated the economic woes. the states of Andhra Pradesh,
Monday also reported 1,016 checks mandatory. Security The reopenings come af- When Prime Minister Nar- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Ma-
new deaths for a total of personnel used metal detec- ter India's economy shrank endra Modi ordered every- harashtra and Uttar Pradesh,
71,642, the third-highest na- tors attached to rods to en- faster than any other major one in the country to stay the nation's most populous
tional toll. sure social distancing during nation’s, nearly 24% in the indoors, the whole economy state. But infections are also
The world's second-most frisking at the stations, and last quarter. India's economic shut down within four hours. returning to areas that had
populous country with 1.4 commuters were allowed to pain dates to the demonetiza- Millions lost their jobs in- managed to slow the spread
billion people, India has been enter only after sanitizing tion of the nation's currency stantly and tens of thousands of the virus, offsetting mar-
recording the world’s largest their hands. New Delhi’s in 2016 and a hasty rollout of migrant workers, out of ginal gains.Initially hit hard
daily increases in coronavi- streets have already returned of a goods and services tax money and fearing starva- by the virus, New Delhi
rus cases for almost a month. to their normal bustle, and the next year. But the strict tion, poured out of cities and had seemed to turn the tide
Despite over 2 million new people are again flocking to virus lockdown that started headed back to villages. The through its aggressive screen-
cases in the past month and markets. The city's bars will on March 24 further exacer- unprecedented migration not ing for patients.