‘This Is the New Normal’: Gov. Brown Says California Should Prepare for More Devastating Wildfires with Changing Climate

‘This Is the New Normal’: Gov. Brown Says California Should Prepare for More Devastating Wildfires With Changing Climate (KTLA 5) 

Addressing the six massive wildfires continued to burn across Southern California on Saturday, Gov. Jerry Brown did not attempt to paint a rosy picture.

“This is the new normal,” he said of the unusually forceful and sustained Santa Ana winds, unusually dry fall and unusually low humidity that led to the widespread and devastating fires, citing a changing climate in the state.

Brown spoke at a news conference Saturday afternoon in Ventura, where the largest blaze, the Thomas Fire, has smothered 231 square miles and burned down 537 structures. It’s the biggest in Southern California since the Bel-Air fire in 1961.

Other active incidents include the Lilac Fire in San Diego County, Rye Fire in Santa Clarita, Creek Fire near Sylmar, Liberty Fire in Murrieta and Skirball Fire near Bel-Air. Altogether, the large fires have burned more than 175,000 acres this week and destroyed 793 structures, Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott said.