Fire Crews' Safety Threatened by Blazes–and Bears

U.S Forest Service officials claim that bears are threatening the safety of fire crews already risking their lives putting out a wildfire in Yosemite National Park.

The wandering bears, smoked out into the open foraging for food in trash and wherever else they can find it, are making the lives of the crews more complicated as they fight off the persistent Meadow fire. The fire purportedly was ignited by lightening two months ago and burned undetected in a isolated part of the wilderness up until mid-August.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday that the wildfire is now a priority after strong winds fueled the fire to burn about 2,600 acres in a single day.

In the Southern part of the state, the Orange County Register reported that a rampant wildfire burning since Friday morning consumed 1,500 acres , disturbing the peaceful suburban community along Silverado Canyon road on the eastern edge of Orange County.

Vivi Wyngaarden lives in the canyon and has a handmade sign on her home that reads “Thank you firefighters.” She says that she bakes the crew cookies and knows them all by name. “I love them all, I know them all… “Brett, Steve, Joey, Bill … maybe 10?” 

Fires have raged before in Silverado Canyon, which explains the other sign that hangs on Vivi’s house: “Formerly the home of the Silver Belle Saloon.” When the Register asked what happened to the old beer hall and gin joint, she replied that it got burned down many years ago.