California

‘This Is the Future:' Gov. Brown Says Climate Change, Historic Drought Contributing to Extreme Fires

The Valley and Butte fires have scorched thousands of acres in Northern California, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands to evacuate

California Gov. Jerry Brown thanked firefighters for their courage Monday as they battled nature to stop two raging fires.

The Valley and Butte fires have scorched thousands of acres in Northern California, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.

“This is the future,” Brown said Monday, warning that fires are “scary stuff” that were aggravated by a historic four-year drought and climate change.

The Valley Fire, which started Saturday in Lake County and grew to 67,000 acres as of Tuesday morning has killed one resident, destroyed at least 585 homes and hundreds of other structures. 

As of Tuesday's update 9,000 homes were threatened and more than 10,000 residents of  Lake, Sonoma and Napa Counties have been displaced.

The fast-moving wildfire that raged through communities living about 100 miles from San Francisco was only 15 percent contained, Cal Fire officials said.

"Whether you're a rookie firefighter ... or a seasoned veteran, everyone is saying the same thing: [We] have not seen fires spread and move in the way they're moving in this case," Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott said Monday.

The Valley Fire and another in the Gold Rush country of the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 120 miles to the southeast, are the worst of a dozen wildfires currently burning in the state.

The Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties has burned 71,660 acres and threatens 6,400 structures, Cal Fire said Tuesday.

The fire was 37 percent contained after having destroyed 166 homes and 116 outbuildings.

Pimlott said there have been 1,500 more fires than usual for this point in the year, and warned that it’s only going to get worse. Severe drought conditions and dry vegetation helps fire explode, Pimlott said.

"Climate change is not going to go away ... It's going to stay around even after newspapers are forgotten,” Brown said as he discussed California’s extreme fires.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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