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California wildfire forces hundreds to flee flames | California wildfire forces hundreds to flee flames |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A wildfire has destroyed at least 80 buildings and forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in California. | A wildfire has destroyed at least 80 buildings and forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in California. |
The fire is continuing to spread in the mountain town of Lake Isabella and officials say at least 1,500 more buildings are at risk. | The fire is continuing to spread in the mountain town of Lake Isabella and officials say at least 1,500 more buildings are at risk. |
An elderly couple trying to flee the flames were overcome by smoke outside their house and killed, police said. | |
The blaze is one of several fires sparked by recent hot weather across the western United States. | The blaze is one of several fires sparked by recent hot weather across the western United States. |
Thousands of firefighters have been involved in attempts to control blazes across California, where soaring temperatures and 20mph winds combined with five years of drought have helped fires to spread. | |
'Firefight of epic proportions' | 'Firefight of epic proportions' |
The Lake Isabella fire started about 40 miles (65km) north-east of Bakersfield in central California at about 16:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Thursday. | The Lake Isabella fire started about 40 miles (65km) north-east of Bakersfield in central California at about 16:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Thursday. |
It spread 11 miles in 13 hours, engulfing 8,000 acres (3,240 hectares) of parched grass, officials say. | It spread 11 miles in 13 hours, engulfing 8,000 acres (3,240 hectares) of parched grass, officials say. |
The couple who died were found outside their house near Lake Isabella on Friday, fire department officials said. | |
"It's a firefight of epic proportions," said Kern County Fire Department's Brian Marshall said at a news conference. "There's not enough firefighters and fire trucks to put in front of every structure." | "It's a firefight of epic proportions," said Kern County Fire Department's Brian Marshall said at a news conference. "There's not enough firefighters and fire trucks to put in front of every structure." |
Roads have been closed, power has been knocked out and evacuations ordered in several communities, according to fire information website InciWeb, which says evacuees are being sheltered at a school. | Roads have been closed, power has been knocked out and evacuations ordered in several communities, according to fire information website InciWeb, which says evacuees are being sheltered at a school. |
Investigators are working to establish the cause of the fire, which remains unknown. | Investigators are working to establish the cause of the fire, which remains unknown. |
TV footage showed firefighting helicopters hovering amid billowing clouds of smoke as flames consumed homes and roared through the Kern County foothills. | TV footage showed firefighting helicopters hovering amid billowing clouds of smoke as flames consumed homes and roared through the Kern County foothills. |
Fire officials said some residents had ignored evacuation orders. Three firefighters are being treated at hospital for smoke inhalation. | |
California's largest wildfire in recent years was in San Diego county in 2003. That burned 2,820 buildings and led to 15 deaths. | California's largest wildfire in recent years was in San Diego county in 2003. That burned 2,820 buildings and led to 15 deaths. |
The state's deadliest fire on record killed 29 people in Los Angeles county in 1933. | The state's deadliest fire on record killed 29 people in Los Angeles county in 1933. |