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U.S. NEWS Thursday 12 OcTOber 2017

‘Catastrophic event’: Deadly California fires explode again

By JON J. COOPER picking up toward the po-
JOCELYN GECKER tentially disastrous forecast
Associated Press speed of 30 mph. Cars of
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) evacuees raced away
— Fueled by the return of from the flames while
strong winds, the wildfires countless emergency ve-
burning through California hicles raced toward them,
wine country exploded in sirens blaring. Residents
size and number Wednes- manhandled canvas bags
day as authorities issued into cars jammed with pos-
new evacuation orders sessions or filled their gas
and the death toll climbed tanks.
to 21 — a figure that was The wildfires ranked as the
expected to rise higher still. third deadliest and most
Three days after the fires destructive in state history.
began, firefighters were still And officials warned the
unable to gain control of worst was far from over.
the blazes that had turned “Make no mistake, this is
entire Northern California a serious, critical, cata-
neighborhoods to ash and strophic event,” Pimlott
destroyed at least 3,500 said. The fires have burned
homes and businesses. through a staggering 265
“We are literally looking square miles (686 square A Cal Fire official looks out at the remains of the Journey’s End mobile home park Wednesday,
at explosive vegetation,” kilometers) of urban and Oct. 11, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Blazes burning in Northern California have become some of the
deadliest in state history.
said Ken Pimlott, chief of rural areas. High winds and (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
the California Department low humidity made condi-
of Forestry and Fire Protec- tions ideal for fire on the “We have had big fires in Flames have raced across residents for days had
tion. “It is very dynamic. start virtually anywhere on the past. This is one of the the wine-growing region watched the ridges over
These fires are changing by ground that was parched biggest, most serious, and and the scenic coastal the west side of town to
the minute in many areas.” from years of drought. it’s not over,” Gov. Jerry area of Mendocino farther gauge how close the bil-
The entire historic town California Department of Brown said at a news con- north, leaving little more lowing smoke and orange
of Calistoga, population Forestry and Fire Protection ference, alongside the than smoldering ashes and flames of the wildfires had
5,000, was evacuated. spokesman Daniel Berlant state’s top emergency of- eye-stinging smoke in their come. On Wednesday,
In neighboring Sonoma said 22 wildfires were burn- ficials. They said 8,000 fire- wake. Whole neighbor- the ridges themselves were
County, authorities issued ing Wednesday, up from fighters and other person- hoods were leveled, with obscured by the growing
an evacuation advisory 17 the day before. As the nel were battling the blazes only brick chimneys and clouds of smoke.
for the northern part of the fires grow, officials voiced and more resources were charred appliances to Increasingly large pieces
town of Sonoma and the concern that separate fires pouring in from Oregon, mark sites that were once of gray ash drifted down
community of Boyes Hot would merge into even Nevada, Washington and family homes. on the community. Sirens
Springs. By the time the ad- larger infernos. Arizona. In Boyes Hot Springs, wailed. q
visory was issued, lines of
cars were already fleeing.
“That’s very bad,” resident Judge allows Dakota pipeline to keep running
Nick Hinman said when
a deputy sheriff warned By BLAKE NICHOLSON an tribe. U.S. District Judge munity. eral lawsuit through which
him that the driving winds Associated Press James Boasberg’s decision “Today’s decision is a dis- Standing Rock and three
could shift the wildfires BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — will come as a blow to the appointing continuation other tribes still hope to shut
toward the town of So- A federal judge ruled Standing Rock Sioux, who of a historic pattern: Other down the pipeline.
noma proper, with 11,000 Wednesday that the Dako- have argued that an oil people get all the profits, Boasberg found that it is
residents. “It’ll go up like a ta Access oil pipeline can spill from the pipeline under and the tribes get all the likely the Army Corps of
candle.” continue operating while Lake Oahe — from which risk and harm,” said Jan Engineers will be able to
Ash snowed over the So- a study is completed to as- the tribe draws its water — Hasselman, an Earthjustice justify previous decisions
noma Valley, covering sess its environmental im- could have a detrimental attorney representing the made while permitting the
windshields, as winds begin pact on an American Indi- effect on the tribal com- tribe in an ongoing fed- pipeline.q