Dixie is the second largest fire in California history and has already destroyed more than 400 homes and commercial buildings, the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom reported Sunday.
More than 8,500 firefighters have been deployed to contain it, as eleven other fires rage in the state.
According to the latest report from the Fire Department (CAL Fire), during the 25 days it has been active, Dixie has consumed 463,477 acres in four counties and has been 21% contained.
The damage assessment is ongoing.
Eight people are missing while others refuse to evacuate areas in danger, despite warnings from authorities.
"I'm not afraid.
These fires are never going to catch me, ”
Pete Neer, a ranch owner in Plumas County
, told
The New York Times
.
Neither the chilling videos of the flames scorching Greensville, nor the ash falling on his ranch, nor what he described as "red clouds" have been able to persuade him.
"Extreme weather conditions, extreme droughts, are leading to extreme conditions and wildfire challenges never seen before in our history," acknowledged California Governor Gavin Newsom, in a video posted on his Twitter account.
Massive Dixie fire becomes third-largest in California history
Aug. 6, 202102: 11
At least four firefighters injured
A branch that fell from a tree injured four firefighters on Saturday, authorities reported.
A failure in the system of PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company in English), one of the largest electricity and natural gas distribution companies in the United States, is being investigated as a possible cause, although CAL FIRE still indicates it as "undetermined" .
Based in California, PG&E provides electric power and natural gas services to 5.5 million people and another 4.5 million, respectively.
["You MUST go now!" They record how a fire devastates a historic California city]
An incident that killed eight people in 2010 already had the company under the supervision of Federal District Judge William Alsup, who “ordered the company to provide a list by August 16 of all the fires that its company has started. team, ”reported the
Los Angeles Times.
A deer in Greenville walks past property destroyed by the Dixie fire Saturday in Plumas County, California.Noah Berger / AP / AP
The Dixie fire started July 13 near a PG&E power plant.
The company said that the Fly fire, which started nine days later and finally merged with Dixie, may also be its fault, according to the local CBS station in San Francisco, which also assured that the company declared bankruptcy after a series of “deadly forest fires caused by neglect in the electrical grid”.
["Everything is gone": speak those affected in California by the monstrous Dixie fire]
An increase in winds would improve the visibility of firefighters but could also start the fire.
The fiery weather, exacerbated by climate change, drought, and vegetation conditions don't help either.
'
"The vegetation is extremely dry, extremely receptive to fire
,"
Edwin Zúñiga, public information officer
, told the
Los Angeles Times
. "Any small spark can start a fire and run away," he lamented.