California records hottest temperatures as wildfires burn statewide

Californian authorities have said dozens of wildfires were burning in the state early Monday amid record-breaking temperatures that strained the state’s electrical grid and for a time threatened power outages for millions.

Official report said rescuers in military helicopters airlifted 207 people to safety over the weekend after an explosive wildfire trapped them in a popular camping area in California’s Sierra National Forest.

Rescuers used black Hawk and Chinook helicopters for evacuations that began late Saturday and continued into Sunday morning at Mammoth Pool Reservoir, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office said, “At least two people were severely injured and 10 more suffered moderate injuries, while two campers refused rescue and stayed behind, and there was no immediate word on their fate.”

The California National Guard tweeted a photo that showed more than 20 evacuees packed tightly inside one helicopter, some crouched on the floor clutching their belongings.

In another photo taken on the ground from a helicopter cockpit, the densely wooded hills surrounding the aircraft were in flames.

The blaze, dubbed the Creek Fire, has charred more than 71 square miles of timber, and the 800 firefighters on the scene had yet to get any containment after two days of work on steep terrain in sweltering heat.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said the latter blaze, called the El Dorado Fire, started Saturday morning and was caused by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender-reveal party.

Cal Fire said 14,800 firefighters were battling 23 major fires in the state.

Since August 15, California has seen 900 wildfires, many of them started by an intense series of thousands of lightning strikes.

The Creek Fire churned southward from the reservoir through miles of dense forest and by Sunday afternoon threatened a marina and cabins along Shaver Lake, where Jack Machado helped friends remove propane tanks from the lodge Cottages at the Point.

Meanwhile, downtown San Francisco set a record for the day with a high of 100, smashing the previous mark by 5 degrees.

The exceptionally hot temperatures were driving the highest power use of the year, and transmission losses because of the wildfires have cut into supplies.

Eric Schmitt of the California Independent System Operator that manages the state’s power grid said up to 3 million customers faced power outages if residents didn’t curtail their electricity usage.

Pacific Gas & Electric, the state’s largest utility, warned customers that it might cut power starting Tuesday because of expected high winds and heat that could create even greater fire danger.

Some of the state’s largest and deadliest fires in recent years have been sparked by downed power lines and other utility equipment.

The Creek Fire started Friday and by Saturday afternoon had exploded in size, jumped the San Joaquin River and cut off the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, national forest spokesman Dan Tune said.

At least 2,000 structures were threatened in the area about 290 miles north of Los Angeles though the cause of the fire has not been determined.

While some campers were rescued by helicopters, others made a white-knuckle drive to safety.