Energy & Environment

Schwarzenegger evacuates due to California wildfire

Greg Nash

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) confirmed Monday that he was among those forced to evacuate amid ongoing wildfires across the state.

{mosads}Schwarzenegger said in a tweet that he complied with an evacuation order around 3:30 a.m. on Monday.

“If you are in an evacuation zone, don’t screw around. Get out. Right now I am grateful for the best firefighters in the world, the true action heroes who charge into the danger to protect their fellow Californians,” he added.

NBC correspondent Maria Shriver, Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife, also evacuated, tweeting, “We have evacuated, but we’re safe. Praying for our neighbors.”

NBA star LeBron James also said the blazes had forced him to evacuate, tweeting, “Had to emergency evacuate my house and I’ve been driving around with my family trying to get rooms. No luck so far!”

The fires prompted California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to declare a state of emergency over the weekend. Pacific Gas and Electric has cut power to about 2.35 million people across 38 counties, with the National Weather Service warning of winds up to 75 miles per hour that could exacerbate the fires.

“I’m seeing people reporting that they’re going to stay and fight this fire,” Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick said. “You cannot fight this. Please evacuate.”

The Kincade Fire, meanwhile, has burned about 30,000 acres in Sonoma County and led to the evacuations of nearly 200,000 people, while in the southern part of the state, the Tick Fire also prompted tens of thousands of evacuations.

Tags California evacuations Gavin Newsom Los Angeles wildfires

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