US: Wildfire spreads in southern California August 10

Event

The so-called Holy Fire continues to spread in the southern Orange and Riverside counties of California as of Friday, August 10. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Friday in both counties as the blaze has burned up to 7324 hectares (18,100 acres) of land and is only 5 percent contained. Over 21,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the fire, including near Lake Elsinore. The blaze is expected to grow in the coming days as firefighters attempt to contain it. Further evacuations are also possible. Up-to-date information on these and other California wildfires can be found on the CalFire website or its Twitter account.

Context

The Holy Fire started on August 6 near the Cleveland National Forest. Authorities believe it was intentionally set and one suspect has been arrested on arson charges. Wildfires are frequent in California from May through November.

Advice

Individuals in affected areas are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas near the wildfires, adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. road closures, evacuation orders), and monitor the situation. Children and those with respiratory illnesses are advised to limit outdoor activity.