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Wildfires destroying American states on west coast

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 14 Sep 2020, 10:07AM
Talent, Oregon which has been devastated by wildfires. (Photo / Getty)
Talent, Oregon which has been devastated by wildfires. (Photo / Getty)

Wildfires destroying American states on west coast

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 14 Sep 2020, 10:07AM

More than 30 people have died in the wildfires that are ravaging the West Coast of the United States. The fires are stretching through California, Oregon and Washington.

They are burning close to the same area as the country Wales.

Emergency officials are saying Oregon should prepare for a mass fatality incident.

Simon Ivamy, a kiwi who is caught up in the fires, told Kate Hawkesby it is all surreal.

"The smoke is so intense, it's not clearing there is a layer of inversion... which means our viability is so poor. There's an intoxicating smoke which is absolutely unhealthy for inhabitants, and it also gives great difficulty to the crews trying to battle the fires. It's very alarming."

"You are absolutely laden in smoke all through the [Lamar] valley."

Mr Ivamy lives in suburban Portland, and says the air quality in the city has been the worse in the world the last few days.

"There's definitely not going to be an evacuation of the city, but the towns which are closer to the fire they have been evacuated basically to prevent chaos if the fires did come closer to the towns," he adds.

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