Over the weekend, the Corral Fire erupted in Northern California, ravaging over 14,000 acres of land and leaping over major roads, which resulted in mandatory evacuations as it threatened nearby homes.
Daniel Perez, a resident of the area, chose to remain on site and assist the first responders.
In a conversation with CBS News, Perez shared that the firefighters had dipped the hose into his pool to fight the fire. According to him, it seemed like they had successfully contained the flames at one point, but then the fire unexpectedly spread from a different direction.
As the intense winds fueled the fire, it destroyed Perez’s neighbors’ home, although thankfully the older couple residing there were able to evacuate without harm. While Perez’s home remained intact, his garage and the precious memories stored within it were not so lucky. Among those cherished items was a beautiful comforter made by his grandmother that he had used for his daughter’s crib.
Expressing his deep sorrow, he stated that the damage caused was irreparable, and the loss he had suffered was truly devastating.
As a common occurrence in California, wildfires have been a cause of concern for firefighters due to the early onset of the fire season. The Corral Fire, which was about 75% contained as of Monday evening, has raised alarm among experts.
According to CalFire information officer Cecile Juliette, referring to it as “fire season” is no longer the norm. She goes on to say that it feels like there are no longer any set guidelines in place.
According to scientists, the warming climate is causing an earlier arrival of spring, accompanied by higher temperatures. This, in turn, leads to a quicker melting of the snowpack, which causes the vegetation to dry out faster. This dried-out vegetation ultimately becomes fuel for wildfires.
Juliette expressed her surprise at the fact that a fire that was over 14,000 acres had already broken out in early June.
