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SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Marin County firefighters pull a hose up a hill during a controlled burn training on June 16, 2023 in San Rafael, California. Newly hired seasonal firefighters with the Marin County Fire Department participated in a live fire wildfire training as firefighters prepare for California wildfire season.
Over the weekend, four wildfires broke out in the southern California county of Riverside amidst searing temperatures; on Sunday, most of the state was under excessive heat warnings.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Rabbit Fire, the largest of the blazes, had consumed 7,600 acres by Sunday and was 10% contained after igniting Friday afternoon.
California Wildfires Prompt Evacuation
On Friday, Cal Fire officials reported a vegetation fire in the Lakeview community. The Rabbit Fire was initially reported as 20 acres in size and rapidly spreading. Cal Fire investigators are still investigating the incident's cause.
Sunday's incident update revealed that the Rabbit Fire threatened at least 152 structures. Authorities stated in the latest update that they anticipate the fire to be contained by Wednesday.
Per CNN, Cal Fire tweeted that firefighters made progress on Sunday and downgraded a portion of the evacuation order for the Rabbit Fire to an evacuation warning for several areas.
On Friday and Saturday, firefighters worked to contain the much smaller Reche, Highland, and Gavilan fires that broke out in Riverside County. According to an update from Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department, Sunday saw the lifting of evacuation orders for the Reche and Highland fires.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Reche Fire has consumed more than 435 acres and is 60% contained, while the Highland fire has consumed 105 acres and is 70% contained.
The Gavilan fire in unincorporated Perris, Riverside County, has burnt 250 acres and is 50 percent contained. Authorities have stated that evacuation orders for this fire remain in effect.
Per Fox News, the fires were all within 40 miles of Riverside County, and temperatures in some areas reached triple digits over the weekend as firefighters battled the blazes. The Rabbit Fire, the largest of the blazes, has burned 7,600 acres and is 5% contained, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department on Saturday night.
Other forest fires include the 105-acre Highland Fire, which is 70% contained, the 437-acre Reche Fire, which is 50% contained, and the 250-acre Gavilan Fire, which is 25% contained.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or property damage, according to officials, who ordered the evacuation of approximately 1,000 homes. Hundreds of firefighters, along with firefighting helicopters and aircraft, were dispatched.
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US Experiences Severe Heatwave
As California braces for its warmest weather of the year, hundreds of firefighters were dispatched to combat the blazes. Nevada, Arizona, and California will experience even higher-than-anticipated maximum temperatures, according to Mirror.
In some desolate regions, daytime temperatures are expected to reach 120°F and remain above 90°F at night. Earlier in the week, leaders issued warnings about the risk of wildfires.
As temperatures rose on Saturday, more than 110 million people, or roughly one-third of the United States, were under extreme heat advisories, watches, and warnings. Death Valley, California, one of the hottest sites on Earth, could attain record-breaking temperatures on Sunday, July 16.
As a result, Death Valley National Park has posted warnings on its website advising visitors not to hike after 10 a.m. local time. A man died in his vehicle in Death Valley National Park earlier this month.
Extreme heat appears to have caused the demise of the San Diego resident, 65, who was discovered on July 3 in the morning. Initial investigation suggested that heat-related illness may have contributed to the driver's loss of control.
The previous day's maximum temperature was a sweltering 52.5C, while the overnight minimum was 36.6C. An investigation revealed that the vehicle's air conditioning was not functioning, and the driver's window was down, indicating that the air conditioning was not functioning while the individual was driving.
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