California man returns to wildfire-destroyed home

California’s firefighting agency is in talks with the National Guard and California Conservation Corps about providing reinforcements as an already devastating wildfire season threatens to get even worse.

Lightning-sparked fires that have grown to some of the largest in state history have pushed firefighters to the breaking point as they also deal with complications from the coronavirus pandemic and depleted inmate crews.

“Historically it’s September and October when we experience our largest and our most damaging wildfires. So to be in the middle of August and already have the second- and the third-largest wildfires in our state’s history is very concerning to us,” Daniel Berlant, chief of wildfire planning and engineering at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Tuesday.

For now, cooler temperatures are helping firefighters begin to corral three huge clusters of fires ignited Aug. 15. The blazes have killed at least seven people, burned nearly 1,300 homes and other buildings, and prompted evacuation orders that still affect an estimated 170,000 people.

Firefighters in wine country north of San Francisco have cleared containment lines - used to prevent fires from spreading - around a quarter of the fires there that have scorched more than 550 square miles (1,424 square kilometers) and destroyed more than 930 buildings. It is now the second-largest blaze in California history.

To the east of San Francisco, firefighters created containment lines around 15% of a group of fires that have charred more than 568 square miles (1,471 square kilometers), making it the third-largest in state history.

And to the south, officials said progress was made against fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties that have grown to 123 square miles (318.5-square-kilometer), destroyed 330 structures and threatens another 25,000.

On Tuesday, Charles Christianson returned to the ruins of his home in Guerneville. "I built this house 28 years ago, so it's kind of a shock it's not here," he said.

Christianson was emotional about his home but found reason for optimism.

"I'm happy all these huge Redwood trees made it, I'm happy all the tall trees are here. They will be back, my house will be back."

(Image Credit Pixabay)