California, swept by flames, faces the threat of flooding

Firefighters battling a large wildfire in the Los Angeles area were bracing for a new threat yesterday: possible flooding and mudslides from a tropical storm moving in from Mexico.

After being downgraded from hurricane status as it made landfall over Mexican territory last Thursday, Tropical Storm Kay headed north. There is a risk that it will bring strong winds, which could strengthen the fire which has been dubbed the “Fairview fire”, the authorities warn.

Nearly 97,000 acres of land have already been ravaged by the fire, which broke out on Monday amid an extreme heat wave and continues to spread due to “very strong winds” coming down from nearby mountains, authorities said.

“In my entire career, I’ve never seen a fire like this in Riverside County,” commented John Crater, chief of the California Wildfire Service. “It’s a very difficult fire,” he insisted.

Two people died, trapped by the flames as they tried to escape.

The area to be evacuated has been extended once more and 20,000 people are now being asked to leave their homes. Authorities are going door-to-door to ask the most reluctant residents to leave, to go to safe areas.

Although Hurricane K has been downgraded to a tropical storm, it is forecast to bring heavy rainfall to California and Arizona and rising water levels along the US Pacific coast.

According to the US National Weather Service, rainfall could reach 18 cm, raising the risk of flooding and mudslides in areas where the scorched earth cannot absorb such flows.

RES-EMP

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