Wildfire Spreads Toward Tourist Town in California
By VOA News 03 July 2008
A firefighter uses a special gun to start a backfire on a wildfire burn in Big Sur, 03 Jul 2008
A raging wildfire approached a tourist town in California Thursday, leaving the popular region mostly deserted. Firefighters
are working to contain the blaze, which has burned more than 20,000
hectares near the scenic coastal area of Big Sur in central
California. Many hotels and restaurants in the area have been
abandoned. Authorities ordered an evacuation of the area on Wednesday. The
blaze is one of nearly 2,000 wildfires that have erupted across
California since June 20. Most of the fires have been ignited by
lightning. No deaths have been reported, but health officials have raised concerns over poor air quality. Last
week, President Bush declared a state of emergency for California and
ordered federal aid to assist in firefighting efforts. California
is often hit by wildfires due to its arid climate and hot, dry winds.
Last year, fires destroyed more than 200,000 hectares and some 2,000
homes in southern California.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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