The Mosquito Fire in Northern California has flared up in the past 24 hours and is headed toward a mountain community, dangerously approaching a high school. This has prompted the evacuation of over 11,000 people in the Sierra Nevada area, CNN reports. To date, it has burned 46 structures, including homes, and has grown to approximately 50,000 acres. Firefighters have been able to contain 25 percent of it.
The fire began on Sept. 6 west of Lake Tahoe and is currently the largest active fire in California, active in the El Dorado and Placer counties. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are 93 large fires across the Western U.S., most being in Idaho, Montana, and the Pacific Northwest. In Oregon, the Cedar Creek fire is also on a rampage, quadrupling in size, as reported by CNN. These fires come amid a troubling drought and heatwave in California.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central USSpeed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslidesSpeed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides
-
Should Los Angeles rebuild its fire-prone neighbourhoods?Talking Point The latest devastating wildfires must be a wake-up call for Los Angels to 'move away from fire-prone suburban sprawl'
-
The worst wildfires in California historyThe Explainer Total damage from the ongoing fires could be up to $150 billion, according to AccuWeather
-
How will home insurance change after LA's fires?Today's Big Question Climate disasters leave insurance industry in crisis
-
What happens to wildlife during a wildfire?The explainer Flames also affect the flora and fauna
-
Death toll rises in LA fires as wind lull allows progressSpeed Read At least 24 people have died and 100,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders
-
Biden cancels Italy trip as raging LA fires spreadSpeed Read The majority of the fires remain 0% contained
