Wildfires rage especially in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Sini Rajaniemi, who is studying and practicing in the United States for her first year, talks about her return home to California.
21:07•Updated 21:21
Endurance runner Blue Rajaniemi20, witnessed the arresting sight while returning back to California yesterday, Wednesday. After the Christmas vacation spent in Finland, there were five wildfires raging in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
– The view from the air was terrible, the fires were clearly visible. I didn’t see any flames, but the air is really smoky and you can see it everywhere here in Los Angeles.
A new fire broke out the night before Thursday in the Hollywood Hills. More than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
On the map you can see the currently actively spreading wildfires:
Rajaniemi, who is studying psychology at California Baptist University, was already worried about whether he would be able to return as scheduled, but so far air traffic has been secured.
The first of the fires broke out on January 7, and due to the short notice, Rajaniemi did not think about rescheduling its flights. Rajaniemi, who lives about 90 kilometers to the southeast, in Riverside, California, in the university area, says he is safe at home. However, you can feel the smoke of wildfires in the air you breathe.
– However, this is quite scary. There is nothing like this in Finland, says Rajaniemi, who finished fifth in the 800 meters at the Kaleva Games.
– Because of the smoke, the air quality is a little worse, which you can feel in your breathing when playing sports outside. Otherwise, the fire has not come close to me, nor to my friends, since the school is further away.
At least five people have died in the wildfires in California. So far, Rajaniemi has not had to think about a backup plan in case of fires, and he is able to train normally. The university also keeps its students up to date.
However, wildfires have already become familiar to Rajaniemi, who is studying in the United States for her first school year. Liekkimeri also welcomed the Finn when his studies began in the fall.
– When I moved here, the wildfires were close to the school and visible to the school. Back then, we weren’t allowed to practice outside because of the bad air quality.