Prolonged drought and high temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere have fueled fires in several areas of the United States.
Firefighters began to control a forest fire this Friday (8) that destroyed at least 132 buildings and damaged another 88 in California. More than 10,000 people had to temporarily leave their homes.
The fighters had the help of winds coming from the Pacific Ocean after the presence of hot, dry winds originating in the desert helped the fire spread on Wednesday in a place about 80 km northwest of Los Angeles.
The fire had consumed 8,350 hectares by Friday, practically the same as the previous 24 hours, and was 14% contained, Cal Fire officials told the press.
Residents of 3,500 homes were able to return, but another 2,000 homes remained under evacuation orders, according to Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff.
Dry vegetation and steep, rugged terrain contributed to the fire.
The US is facing a year of severe wildfires, with 3.3 million hectares burned so far. The area is three times larger than that burned in the same period last year.
In New York, firefighters controlled a fire in a wooded area in Brooklyn between Friday night (8) and this Saturday (9). More than a hundred professionals worked to fight the flames.
There were no immediate reports of damage to buildings in the fire, which occurred in the Prospect Park area, and by Saturday, nearly all of the fires had been extinguished.
“After the driest October on record, New York is under a drought warning, which greatly increases the risk of wildfires,” wrote the city’s mayor, Eric Adams, on the social network X.
Hundreds of wildfires have sparked across New Jersey and Connecticut in recent weeks. On three occasions, it was necessary to empty places and close roads.
The cause of the fire in Brooklyn has not yet been clarified. The flames spread to just under a hectare in a location known as Nethermead.
About 25 firefighting units, some with drones, responded to the emergency, according to authorities.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. Authorities warned residents to stay away from the affected area and stay in their homes with windows closed.
Drought conditions are expected to continue until the end of the year in the area, which is experiencing the second longest rainless streak on record.
More than half of the country’s lower 48 states are in drought conditions, according to Drought Monitor. Conditions are particularly bad in the Eastern and mid-Atlantic states.
