Wildfires: Arnie calls in troops
2008-07-02 07:42
Los Angeles - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday sent National Guard units to help firefighters struggling to contain wildfires raging for 11 days in the northern part of the state.
"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today ordered California National Guard soldiers to provide direct ground support to help CalFire with the current wildfire threat in Northern California," a statement from Schwarzenegger's office said.
The move added 200 soldiers to the 18 900 emergency personnel already fighting dozens of fires sparked on June 21 by lightning strikes in the dry, hot wilderness.
In northern California alone, the blazes have devoured 1 712 square kilometres, according to the state fire service Calfire, and have begun to close in on Big Sur, a popular hiking and camping location on the Pacific coast some 200km south of San Francisco.
Some 1 200 buildings are under threat in the Big Sur area, a prime tourist attraction.
No one has been reported killed by the fires, which have destroyed 29 homes, one business and 21 other buildings and raised concern over air quality.
California is frequently hit by scorching wildfires due to its dry climate, Santa Ana winds and recent housing booms which have seen housing spread rapidly into rural and densely forested areas.
Last October, devastating wildfires were among the worst in California history, leaving eight people dead, destroying 2 000 homes, displacing 640 000 people and causing one billion dollars in damage.
- AFP