Firefighters beat back four large fires Friday, but four new ones started Saturday. Forecasters expected the dry and windy weather to continue through Sunday for much of the state, although the northwest corner of Nevada and most of Oregon, Washington and Idaho were expected to receive some rain that would help control the blazes. Meanwhile on the east coast, New York Governor George Pataki declared a drought emergency in eight counties of that state, restricting water use throughout the affected area. The New York governor's actions came as much of the the eastern United States continued Saturday to suffer the driest summer in decades. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration announced Friday that Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island have been hit with the worst drought ever on record.
Officials say no significant rainfall is likely in the area in the foreseeable future.
Several states in the mid-Atlantic United States have declared emergencies, including mandatory water restrictions, and the federal government has announced some aid measures. President Bill Clinton announced emergency measures Friday, and directed the White House to convene a task force of the relevant cabinet agencies to coordinate a national response to the crisis. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has declared the state of West Virginia and 33 neighboring counties disaster zones, allowing farmers there to receive low-interest loans and other assistance. Nine other states have also requested federal disaster designation, Glickman said. Earlier this week, the US Senate approved more than seven billion dollars in emergency relief farmers.