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Kincade fire: Thousands evacuated as California wildfire rages California wildfires: Thousands evacuated as flames rage
(about 8 hours later)
About 2,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as a wildfire rages through California's wine country. About 40,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as wildfires rage through California.
The Kincade fire has engulfed 10,000 acres of land in Sonoma County and is not yet contained, the state's fire protection department says. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blazes as they engulf land and burn buildings in the north and south of the western US state.
It is being driven by powerful winds and is moving south, a California fire spokeswoman said. The fires are being driven by powerful winds, which are expected to worsen in southern California over the weekend.
California is still recovering from wildfires last year that killed about 100 people.California is still recovering from wildfires last year that killed about 100 people.
The fire is moving some 75 miles (120km) north of San Francisco. Where are the major fires?
Wind gusts of up to 70mph (112km/h) have affected much of the state, the AP news agency reports. The winds are expected to die down on Friday but will pick back up again at the weekend. The Kincade Fire, which started on Wednesday, has burned through 16,000 acres (6500 hectares) of land in Sonoma County - one of California's best-known wine regions.
More than 900 residents of the town of Geyserville, Sonoma County, have been ordered to evacuate by fire officials. There are at least three other major fires:
What's caused the wildfires?
There are unconfirmed reports that the Kincade fire erupted near a damaged high-voltage transmission line.
It is not known what caused the other fires.
High winds appear to have spread the fires - gusts of up to 70mph (112km/h) have affected much of the state.
The winds are expected to die down in northern California on Friday but will continue to cause a critical to extreme fire risk in the south, BBC Weather reports.
Who is affected?
The Tick Fire is in the most densely populated region and at least 40,000 residents in Santa Clarita neighbourhoods have had to evacuate their homes.
Nearly 180,000 homes were without power on Thursday morning after Pacific Gas & Electric shut off power in 15 southern California counties to prevent the risk of any accidental fires.
Power was restored to 93% of customers on Thursday night.
Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District announced they would close on Friday due to air quality and safety concerns.
On Thursday morning 2,000 residents of the town of Geyserville in Sonoma County were ordered to evacuate by fire officials and 49 buildings have been burnt down.
Many Geyserville residents said they did not have much time to gather their belongings together.Many Geyserville residents said they did not have much time to gather their belongings together.
Dwight Monson, 68, told the Los Angeles Times that by the time his family jumped into their cars and headed into the valley below, the flames were already on the far edge of their property.Dwight Monson, 68, told the Los Angeles Times that by the time his family jumped into their cars and headed into the valley below, the flames were already on the far edge of their property.
An evacuation warning has also been issued in the nearby town of Healdsburg. "This fire is moving fast, please pay attention to evacuation orders," state Senator Mike McGuire warned in a tweet.
"This fire is moving fast, please pay attention to evacuation orders," state Senator Mike McGuire tweeted. Emergency responders are tackling the fires with support from air tankers and helicopters.
"CalFire continues to mobilize major resources from throughout NorCal for the #KincadeFire," he wrote on Thursday morning. "Engines, bulldozers and personnel started flowing in overnight and will continue thru the day."
Nearly 180,000 homes are without power after Pacific Gas & Electric shut off power in 15 southern California counties to prevent the risk of any accidental fires.
More than 308,000 customers in seven counties, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura, are under consideration for power shutoffs, according to the Southern California Edison.
About 500 emergency responders are tackling the blaze with support from air tankers and helicopters.
The fire is believed to have started in a mountainous area near Kincade Road and Burned Mountain Road. Its cause is not yet known.
Earlier this month, wildfires razed 4,700 acres north of Los Angeles, California, and forced thousands to flee.Earlier this month, wildfires razed 4,700 acres north of Los Angeles, California, and forced thousands to flee.