California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as wildfires spread rapidly through Northern California, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate. Fueled by dry winds and record heat, the fires have burned more than 120,000 acres in just four days.
The state’s emergency services have deployed over 8,000 firefighters, while helicopters and water bombers continue to battle the blazes. Residents of Napa, Sonoma, and parts of Sacramento have been asked to move to safer zones.
Satellite images show dense smoke covering large parts of the western US. Environmental experts say the frequency of wildfires has nearly doubled in the past decade, driven by climate change and forest mismanagement.
Several Indian and Nepali families residing in California have been safely relocated, according to local community groups. Global climate activists have renewed calls for urgent emission controls to prevent further disasters.
