SAN FRANCISCO -- California Governor Jerry Brown offered his
sympathy Thursday to the victims of wildfires that are ravaging the state, and
would visit the affected areas soon, as the death toll hit a new high of 29,
local media reports said.
The reports quoted his spokesman Evan Westrup as saying that the
governor intends to travel to the fire zones, but not immediately so that his
visit doesn't take away from critical resources needed to combat the blaze.
"Our focus is on getting resources where they're needed most, not
pulling them away for photo-ops with the governor," Westrup said.
Twenty-two blazes are ravaging primarily across eight counties in
Northern California, spawning one of the most devastating fire disasters in the
state's history.
"We aren't in any way finished. Some places are beginning to be
contained. But the fires are burning and the winds can come up. They
aren't as calm as we would like them to be. The next couple of days are very
serious for California," Brown said.
Over 8,000 firefighters are combating the blaze mainly in the Bay area
of western California, but gusty winds and low humidity expected in the coming
days will continue to challenge the firefighters' efforts towards containment
and will increase the risk for new fires.
At least 3,500 homes and businesses have been destroyed and more than
190,000 acres have burned since the fires ignited late Sunday, the media
reports said. (Xinhua)
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