California fires; from LA to Wisconsin, concern grows
LOS ANGELES - One of the people near the ongoing southern California fires is a former member of the FOX6 News family.
Gabrielle Mays is watching first-hand as ash is falling from the sky in southern California. Mays lives in downtown Los Angeles and said she has never experienced anything like this.
"I think the best way to describe it is probably Armageddon. It’s absolutely insane," Mays said. "Honestly, the smoke outside is absolutely atrocious."
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On a normal day, the views from Mays' apartment are stunning, but as wildfires ravage southern California, the skyline looks different.
Los Angeles County wildfires
"I have a fire to my north and then I have a fire to the west of me. Those fires are huge," Mays said. "The ash now, those flakes, are becoming a lot bigger because these fires, the magnitude of these fires has just been astronomical."
Thick smoke has filled the air. She is not in an evacuation zone but is not far from it.
As she watches from her balcony, back in Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources wildfire prevention specialist Catherine Koele is watching it too.
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"Wind is the enemy when it comes to these rapidly spreading fires," Koele said.
She said while Wisconsin has never seen fires of that magnitude, wildfires do happen here. There have been three in the last week.
"With the lack of snow cover even here right now throughout Wisconsin, it’s concerning going into spring fire season," Koele said.
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Everyone across the country is hoping for a change of weather, so the fires can die down.
Wisconsin wildfire
"Honestly, I have never seen anything like this in my entire life," Mays said.
She said one of the biggest lessons she's learned from all of this is the importance of preparation.
She said, as a Californian, she is used to natural disasters. But situations like this are different. She said this has shown her to be prepared to evacuate if needed and have essentials ready to go.