Fijians Stay Indoors As California Wildfires Continue
“We’re indoors, windows and doors bolted shut, and air conditioning units and fans full-on, to help air circulation inside. You can say it’s getting scary to watch what’s unfolding, as sure as California is, in terms of her wildfires, and this one has at least 90 per cent endangering life in Santa Cruz County, up to Northern California”
Monday 24 August 2020 | 11:52
Fijians in this Santa Cruz County, close to California’s raging wildfires are watching and waiting says former journalist Vasiti Ritova.
Ms Ritova, lives and works as a caregiver in Watsonville, in the Santa Cruz County, where much of California’s wildfires are raging.
Watsonville is at least 30 minutes across from where the fires are raging.
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“We’re enveloped by smoke and ash and haze,” Ms Ritova said from Santa Cruz yesterday.
“I know there are at least three or four Fijian families in this County, and we’re all watching and waiting.
“I’ve asked Juhne Kamikamica, owner of the newly established Delightful Laundry in Nasinu, and they’re safe, but watching too.
“Another Fijian family, the Rogers of Lautoka, are in nearby Aptos, relatives say they’re also watching.
“The state is under siege by some of the worst wildfires in the state’s history. It’s certainly safe to conclude now that at least 77,000 people have faced mandatory evacuation orders, and thousands have moved.
“A few of the neighbouring towns close to where I live and work have been destroyed by these destructive wildfires, and the dangerous challenge is poisonous smoke and ash.
“We’re indoors, windows and doors bolted shut, and air conditioning units and fans full-on, to help air circulation inside. You can say it’s getting scary to watch what’s unfolding, as sure as California is, in terms of her wildfires, and this one has at least 90 per cent endangering life in Santa Cruz County, up to Northern California”
Ms Ritova said according to Calfire the flame has claimed over 900,000 acres.
“The flames have now claimed over 900,000 acres, according to Calfire. The fires were sparked by nearly 12,000 lightning strikes in dry regions that haven’t had very much rain. The destruction and fear are hard to fathom.”
Some firefighters have suffered minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Lusiana Raketekete who lives at Fairfield in California, said most of her friends were panicking but she was praying for safety.
Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola
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