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| State of emergency declared over California Lake County wildfire | |
| (about 2 hours 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. Residents of Middletown, in the path of the fire, said the blaze had heavily damaged the town. | |
| Related: California wildfires threaten mountain towns as blaze intensifies | Related: California wildfires threaten mountain towns as blaze intensifies |
| Brown’s 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. | |
| The order mobilised resources including the state national guard to help the firefighting effort. | |
| Cars leaving Middletown were dodging smouldering telephone poles and driving through billowing smoke. Residents said there were burned buildings downtown, but the heaviest damage was farther out, where homes and apartment complexes had been destroyed. | |
| One, Javier Negrete, said parts of Middletown had burned to the ground. Teri Molini, who lives on the edge of town, said she started seeing flames within hours of hearing about the fire. She left with her pug and spent the night in Calistoga, about 17 miles away. George Escalona said his home had burned and he was left with nothing but the clothes he was wearing when he fled. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Four 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. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |