Arab News

Friday . September 11, 2026

LATEST NEWSMiddle East Iran and Gulf states to meet in push for Hormuz deal, FT reports

San Francisco blanketed in smoke as California fires rage

San Francisco blanketed in smoke as California fires rage

Matt Nichols sprays water while trying to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

TOPSHOT - In this long exposure photograph, flames consumes both sides of a segment of Lake Berryessa during the Hennessey fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18, the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

Bill Nichols, 84, extinguishes a burning tree as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Nichols has lived in the home for 77 years. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

NAPA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 18: Embers blow off a burned tree after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire burned through the area on August 18, 2020 in Napa, California. The LNU Lightning Complex Fire continues to burn near Lake Berryessa near the town of Napa. The fire is zero percent contained. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18,2020 the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

Seen in a long exposure photograph, embers burn along a hillside above Lake Berryessa as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Seen in a long exposure photograph, embers burn along a hillside as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

An outbuilding burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat area of unincorporated Napa County, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

In this long exposure photograph, fire fills both sides of highway 128 during the Hennessey fire near Napa, California on August 18, 2020. The Hennessey Fire started in the early hours of August 17 in the Napa wine region of Northern California. The fire grew to 2,700 acres in 24 hours and is 0% contained. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

A home burns in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18,2020 the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

A horse walks towards flames as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

NAPA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 18: The banks around Lake Berryessa smolder after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire burned through the area on August 18, 2020 in Napa, California. The LNU Lightning Complex Fire continues to burn near Lake Berryessa near the town of Napa. The fire is zero percent contained. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

WINTERS, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 18: A home burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fire advances through the area on August 18, 2020 in Winters, California. The LNU Lightning Complex fire continues to burn near Lake Berryessa near the town of Napa. The fire is zero percent contained. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Bill Nichols, 84, works to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Nicols has lived in the home for 77 years. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Firefighters monitor flames as they approach a residence in the valley area of Vacaville, northern California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18, the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

A home burns in the valley area of Vacaville, northern California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18, the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

A home burns in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18,2020 the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

Firefighters take refuge in their trucks in a cleared field as a wildfire also known as the Hennessey Fire jumped Knoxville Berryessa Road, west of Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)

A home burns in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18,2020 the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

An American flag blows in the wind as flames approach during the Hennessey fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020. As of the late hours of August 18,2020 the Hennessey fire has merged with at least 7 fires and is now called the LNU Lightning Complex fires. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

Matt Nichols tries to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of wildfires sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

In this long exposure photograph, embers fly off a burning tree during the Hennessey fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020. The Hennessey Fire started in the early hours of August 17 in the Napa wine region of Northern California. The fire grew to 2,700 acres in 24 hours and is 0% contained. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin. / AFP / JOSH EDELSON

Updated 19 August 2020 16:49

August 19, 2020 16:46

Thousands of people were under orders to evacuate in regions surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area Wednesday as some 30 wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering heat wave now in its second week. Smoke blanketed the city of San Francisco.

“Throughout the state of California right now, we are stretched thin for crews” because of the fires, said Will Powers, a state fire spokesman. “Air resources have been stretched thin throughout the whole state.”