Washington, Aug 3 (Prensa Latina) Forest fires now threaten thousands of homes in northern California, as scientists warn of more disasters in the coming months because of drought, heat and the effects of climate change.
At least 24 fires led to the current governor of California, Jerry Brown, to declare a state of emergency after thousands of acres were burned and thousands of people evacuated.

These fires have already caused the death of a firefighter who participated in actions to tackle the flames that threaten thousands of homes.

The state of emergency declared allows to activate the California National Guard to support the work of thousands of firefighters, while all state agencies are required to grant immediate assistance as soon as a fire is reported.

According to the Californian newspaper La Opinion, the fires caused that hundreds of upstate residents are evacuated from their homes as a safety measure.

The state, considered the salad bowl of the country for his great contribution of agricultural products to the table of Americans, is suffering the fourth year of the worst drought in its history, making forest areas prone to be on fire.

Last Friday, a forest fire broke out in the Modoc National Forest, about 124 kilometers south of Oregon, and in a few hours destroyed more than 741 acres (about 300 hectares) officials said.

David Ruhl, one of the about 9,000 firefighters, died Friday while participating in the struggle against the sinister known as Frog, state authorities reported.

The Rocky fire in the Lower Lake, north of San Francisco, is one of the largest and was only contained in a five percent, while already destroyed 28 homes and other 6,100 are threatened by flames, said Daniel Berlant, Cal Fire spokesman.

Also in central California another fire devastated more than 10 square kilometers of grassland and more than 200 residents of the community of Cascadel Woods received orders to leave the area.

In the Napa Valley flames destroyed more than 12 square kilometers in Solano County, although it was almost under control due to firefighters.

The Forest Service reported that other fires in San Bernardino and Alpine destroyed about 20,235 hectares of forested areas.