California has been suffering from severe wildfires which have claimed countless structures and several lives. Thousands upon thousands have been evacuated — the Carr Fire alone has driven almost 40,000 people out of their homes and has killed a grandmother and her two grandchildren, as well as two firefighters.
The fires are also prevalent in Colorado and Oregon, and millions of acres are going up in flames as residents flee to safety.
Sobering satellite imagery at sunset this evening depicting (multiple) massive pyrocumulus plumes and widespread smoke coverage across northern California. #CarrFire exploding again, with new fires in Mendocino County (#RanchFire, #RiverFire) and elsewhere. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/VbXFUgMzYz
— Dr. Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) July 28, 2018
The United States is not the only country experiences severe wildfires at this time. Canada has been suffering huge fires as well, and recently firefighter Jerry Gadwa was killed in Alberta.
The death toll from the devastating fire in Greece has now surpassed the staggering number of 90 — most died from the fire, some died attempting to escape. The country has been mourning their loss. Sweden has also suffered from a streak of fires.
In all of these places, firefighters are toiling non-stop to put an end to the raging fires, risking their own lives in the process.
Collection from Noah Berger via AP:
Featured image: A car passes through flames on Highway 299 as the Carr Fire burns through Shasta, Calif., Thursday, July 26, 2018. Fueled by high temperatures, wind, and low humidity, the blaze destroyed multiple homes and at least one historic building. | AP Photo/Noah Berger
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When I was 19, I actually spent a summer doing wildland firefighting. I hit the season just prior to the fires, so I didn't actually fight any fires -- we spent the whole time "piling" which meant cutting down underbrush prone to fire, putting them in isolated piles, and then guys would come by later and burn them individually. For 19-year-old me, it was a lot of work and I got poison oak more times than I can count -- it was on some part of my body at any given point during that whole summer! Great experience though. The inmate firefighters generally get paid 1-2 bucks per hour. I don't know much about the prison system there so I couldn't rightfully compare it to other work by inmates.
Awesome to hear everyone. Just wanted to confirm. Pretty cool work program.
It's like Tim e said. They have a good reputation for working hard, and take legitimate classes on it from what I heard. Just a different kind of Prison work program I guess.
California has four seasons: fire, mudslide, earthquake, riot
Years ago (mid 80's) when I was in the firefighting scene the california prisons would get volunteer crews together from the inmate population - they would have guards keeping a close watch on them and while I was there there were no escapes or attempts. They were good crews who worked hard and were used in all phases from initial attack to mop-up. The guards didnt want them from interacting with anyone and they kept to themselves and did the job well.