Around the world | The largest wildfire in California forces thousands to abandon their homes (video)
Weather of Arabia - Fire brigades in the US state of California continued their tireless efforts on Thursday to control a rapidly expanding forest fire, forcing more than 3,500 people to evacuate their homes, according to authorities.
The Park Fire broke out on Wednesday evening, during the last day of a severe heat wave that struck the region, and fire brigades deployed more than 1,150 personnel to fight the fire, which was controlled by only three percent, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. As of 12:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Thursday, the fire had engulfed 28,930 hectares.
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State Governor's statements
State Governor Gavin Newsom announced that more than 3,500 people had evacuated their homes in the affected area. The fire-threatened town of Chico is located about 20 kilometers west of the town of Paradise, which was devastated by a wildfire in 2018, killing 85 people.
Investigations have not yet revealed the causes that led to the outbreak of the Park Fire. However, a 42-year-old man suspected of starting the fire was arrested after he was seen pushing a burning vehicle into a location near where the fire broke out, according to a statement by Butte County Prosecutor Mike Ramsey. The car burned to the ground, spreading the flames that ignited the Park Fire.
Warnings of increased fire danger
The National Weather Service issued a warning Thursday that fire danger will be exacerbated by weather conditions, including gusty winds and low humidity. Scientists believe that recurring heat waves are a sign of global warming linked to climate change caused by humanity's dependence on fossil fuels.
Standard temperatures
The current heat wave in the United States follows the world's hottest June on record, according to the European Copernicus Observatory.
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