This year’s largest fire in the US state of California is raging in an area of 312 square kilometers in the Mojave Desert. The famous Joshua trees are also burning. Experts say they could take centuries to regrow.
The largest fire in the US state so far this year broke out in California’s Mojave Desert with its famous Joshua trees. The fire in the Mojave National Preserve covers an area of 312 square kilometers, the National Park Service said.
Photos showed that Joshua trees were also captured. According to experts, the trees and pine forests in San Bernardino County could take centuries to grow back naturally.
Smoke to Las Vegas
The area east of Palm Springs is a popular tourist destination. The fire broke out on a private property within the protected area on Friday, the park administration said. The cause is not yet known. More than 1,300 people were ordered to vacate their homes near the community of Aguanga as early as Saturday.
The thick smoke spread to Nevada and southern Utah, north of the national park. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas reported departure delays of almost two hours on Monday due to poor visibility.
The fire brigade managed to partially contain the fire. However, California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection warned that gusty winds and possible severe weather could reignite the fire.
Extreme heat in the US
“It’s a common misconception that there aren’t fires in the desert, but we’re seeing right now that they are,” a park ranger told the Los Angeles Times. Such fires are not uncommon. Large parts of the US population have been exposed to extreme heat in recent weeks.
July was so hot around the world that the United Nations believe it was the hottest month on record. The current temperatures are “probably” unprecedented in the history of the past 100,000 years.