A gigantic fire ravaged a town in northern California on the night of Wednesday 4 to Thursday 5 August, a few hours after the authorities ordered residents to evacuate as the blaze approached.
Read also: Fires in Europe: the EU sends planes, helicopters and firefighters
Greenville, a small town of about 800 inhabitants in the north of the state, was engulfed by the flames of the Dixie Fire, a fire that has ravaged California (western United States) for three weeks, fueled by sweltering heat, an alarming drought and continuous winds.
"
I would say much of downtown Greenville is completely destroyed,
" fire photographer Stuart Palley tweeted, posting photos of the disaster.
“
My heart is broken for this wonderful little town,
” he adds.
2,000 residents evacuated
"
Firefighters are fighting for the city of Greenville,
" Pandora Valle, spokeswoman for the US forest services, told the
San Fransisco Chronicle on
Wednesday evening
, without giving further details.
Images taken by an AFP photographer show metal lampposts bent in half by the heat of the fire, and a few rare structures still standing.
The fire reached Greenville at around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday (8:00 p.m. GMT), according to Jake Cagle, section chief in the disaster management team.
In a video posted Wednesday evening, he said firefighters were being delayed by people not following evacuation orders, forcing them to dedicate time and resources to come to their aid.
Read also: California firefighters face a fire that generates its own climate
Some 2,000 California residents were called on Wednesday to evacuate
their homes
"
immediately
" as the Dixie Fire, California's biggest fire this year, approached.
"
If you stayed, you should evacuate EAST, IMMEDIATELY!"
The Plumas Country Sheriff's Department tweeted, addressing residents of the communities of Greenville and Chester.
"
If you are still in the Greenville area you are in imminent danger and you MUST go now !!
", He added in a second alert message, specifying:"
If you stay, the emergency services may not be able to come to your aid
".
The Dixie Fire has been raging in the forests of northern California since mid-July, in connection with the climate crisis, which is causing peaks of heat and drought across the world, especially in North America.
The firefighters were delayed by people not following the evacuation order.
JOSH EDELSON / AFP
