California's Wildfires Causing Air Pollution To Rise Dramatically

Sacramento, CA (AHN) - Pollution readings in California have jumped from 2 to 10 times above federal benchmarks for clean air, according to Dimitri Stanich, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board.

With a weather forecast of more thunderstorms and dry-lightning strikes, firefighters don't see any relief in sight for Californian's suffering from a rash of wildfires.

In contrast to midwestern states inundated by too much rain, according to the California Forest Service, Northern California will most-likely have lower-than-average rainfall and this will translate into a long, hot summer in the area.

The service said fires ignited by lightning may take weeks or even months to be totally controlled. By late Saturday, about 1,400 fires were destroying forest land across the state, the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. It had eaten up 550 square miles of land and destroyed more than 50 building, although there had been no reports of deaths.

Aside from razing forest lands and private property, the fires have forced the cancellation of several sports and outdoor events in California.