(Hemet) Firefighters battling a major blaze on the outskirts of Los Angeles were bracing themselves Friday for a new hazard, in the form of flooding and mudslides that could trigger a tropical storm moving up from Mexico.
Posted at 4:55 p.m.
Downgraded from the hurricane category by the time it made landfall in Mexico on Thursday, the storm Kay then headed north. It is likely to generate strong winds likely to fan the fire called “Fairview fire”, warned the authorities.
Nearly 9,700 hectares have already been consumed by the fire which broke out on Monday, in the midst of an extreme heat wave, and which continues to spread under the effect of “extreme winds” coming down from the nearby mountains, authorities said. .
“I have never seen a fire like this in Riverside County in my entire career,” said John Crater, California Wildfire Services Division Chief. “It’s a very tough fire.”
Two people have already perished, trapped by the flames as they tried to flee the fire.
The area to be evacuated has once again been enlarged, and now concerns more than 20,000 people. The authorities went door to door to ask the most reluctant residents to leave the premises in order to take shelter.
Even though the hurricane Kay was downgraded to a tropical storm, it was expected to bring heavy rain to California and Arizona, as well as heavy swells to the Pacific Coast.
According to the US weather services, more than 18 centimeters of precipitation could fall, increasing the risk of flooding and mudslides in areas where scorched earth will not be able to absorb runoff.