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State of emergency declared over California's Lake County wildfire State of emergency declared over California's Lake County wildfire
(35 minutes later)
The governor of California, Jerry Brown, on Sunday declared a state of emergency for two counties at the centre of a fast-moving wildfire.The governor of California, Jerry Brown, on Sunday declared a state of emergency for two counties at the centre of a fast-moving wildfire.
Related: California wildfires threaten mountain towns as blaze intensifiesRelated: California wildfires threaten mountain towns as blaze intensifies
The state of emergency applied to Lake and Napa counties in northern California. The destructive wildfire surged ahead overnight, churning through an extra 23 square miles as Saturday turned into Sunday. Governor Brown’s order mobilised resources including the state national guard to help the firefighting effort. The declaration applied to Lake and Napa counties in northern California, about 100 miles north of San Francisco. The fire surged ahead overnight, churning through an extra 23 square miles as Saturday turned into Sunday.
A California department of forestry and fire protection spokesman, Daniel Berlant, tweeted on Sunday morning that the fire had now burned up 62 and a half square miles. Governor Brown’s order mobilised resources including the state national guard to help the firefighting effort.
Authorities said the fire erupted in Lake County, about 100 miles north of San Francisco, on Saturday afternoon and rapidly chewed through brush and trees parched from several years of drought. Within 12 hours of igniting, the Lake County fire had swallowed up more than 60 square acres of land, injured four firefighters and burned highways and buildings. The fire chewed through brush and trees parched from several years of drought, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Entire towns as well as residents along a 35-mile stretch of highway were evacuated.
An unconfirmed number of structures were destroyed. Entire towns as well as residents along a 35-mile stretch of highway were evacuated. The firefighters, all members of a helicopter crew, were airlifted to a hospital burn unit, where they were being treated for second-degree burns and were listed in stable condition, department spokesman Daniel Berlant said.
Four firefighters suffered second-degree burns in fighting the blaze and were hospitalised, in stable condition. Brown had already declared a state of emergency for a separate 101-square-mile wildfire about 70 miles southeast of Sacramento that has destroyed at least 86 homes, and turned the grassy, tree-studded Sierra Nevada foothills an eerie white.
Firefighters made gains, meanwhile, against a 101-square-mile wildfire about 70 miles southeast of Sacramento. More than 4,000 firefighters were working to beat back the flames and crews increased containment to 20% by early Sunday. Mandatory evacuations remained in place. Crews increased containment on that blaze to 20% by early Sunday. The fire, which broke out on Wednesday, destroyed 86 homes, 51 outbuildings and was threatening about 6,400 more.
The fire, which broke out on Wednesday, destroyed 86 homes, 51 outbuildings and was threatening about 6,400 more. Teams had arrived by Sunday to assess the damage. “I lost my business it’s all burned up my shop, my house, 28 years of living,” said Joe Thomas, who lives near the community of Mountain Ranch. “I got to start all over. It’s depressing.”
Authorities said the dry conditions, steep terrain and limited access to the flames were making for a challenging firefight. Thomas, who runs a tractor dealership and repair business, said he and his wife grabbed papers, his work computer, photos and their four dogs. But they left a goat, five ducks, six rabbits and more than 30 chickens behind.
“I turned the pens open and turned them lose. I just couldn’t gather them up,” he said. “All we want to do is go home. It’s miserable.”
More than 3,850 firefighters were assigned to the blaze, and more were expected to join the firefight. Its cause is under investigation.
New evacuation orders were issued on Saturday for the largest wildfire in the state, which was threatening to sweep through an ancient grove of Giant Sequoia trees. The fire, sparked by lightning on 31 July, has charred 201 square miles, the US Forest Service said.
Firefighters cleared brush around the Grant Grove and set prescribed burns to keep the flames from overrunning it. By Saturday, the backfiring and monitoring efforts appeared to have helped protect the treasured trees, the Fresno Bee reported.
The grove is named for the towering General Grant tree that stands 268ft. There are dozens of Sequoia groves in the Sierra Nevada, and some trees are 3,000 years old.