The wildfires in the recently devastated part of Northern California are believed to have been started by an abandoned campfire. Authorities are looking into this and investigations are underway.
Weather experts, on the other hand, are zeroing in on the possibility that the lightning storms that have been occurring within the area since last weekend could have ignited these wildfires.
"Our weather system for the past few days is definitely capable of producing series of lightning storms. You try to add the tinder-dry vegetation that we have in this region and you have exactly a perfect recipe for wildfires," commented a weather specialist.
True enough, it was the reoccurring of thunderstorms in the area that prompted weather authorities to place the northern region of California under a state of emergency. As storms travels further towards Southern Oregon, authorities have also posted high alert level in the area.
Over the past few years, this region has been experiencing a considerable number of wildfires following a series of thunderstorms. Weather experts cited a conspicuous "flow of monsoonal moisture from other parts of the United States."
The scientific community, meanwhile, have identified the case as similar to what is happening in some regions of eastern Asia, pointing at changes in ocean temperature as the culprit. Some of the world's regional climatic conditions are disrupted because of changes in the flow of equatorial water in the Pacific.
On Tuesday, residents were finally allowed to go back to their home as the state of emergency was lifted in some areas.
"Evacuation advisory have been temporarily lifted," declared Tom Piranio who is a spokesperson for the state fire department.
"Increasing humidity and massive outpour of rains have helped us contained and reduced the extent of wildfire. Around 2,000 residents can now safely return to their home," Piranio added.
