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US battles destructive wildfires California hit by raging wildfire
(about 4 hours later)
Strong winds have been fanning wildfires near Lake Tahoe in California that have destroyed at least 165 homes and threaten several hundred others. Firefighters are battling a raging wildfire near Lake Tahoe in California that has destroyed more than 200 homes and forced about 1,000 people to leave.
The fires were "raging out of control", officials said late on Sunday. Officials say 460 firefighters are tackling the blaze and they expect that number to double during the day.
In Alaska, fire crews were working to protect hundreds of homes in the Kenai Peninsula as a fire which broke out last week continued to smoulder.In Alaska, fire crews were working to protect hundreds of homes in the Kenai Peninsula as a fire which broke out last week continued to smoulder.
The blaze spread over 81 square miles (210 sq km), destroying dozens of cabins, before being slowed by rain. The fire spread 81 square miles (210 sq km) before being slowed by rain.
High winds were hampering firefighters as they tried to tackle the fast-moving fire near the town of South Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada, fire officials said. High winds were hampering firefighters as they tried to tackle the fast-moving fire near the town of South Lake Tahoe in California's Sierra Nevada, fire officials said.
The blaze, believed to have been started by human activity, was reported on Sunday afternoon.The blaze, believed to have been started by human activity, was reported on Sunday afternoon.
"It's like a 100-ft wall of flame that's marching through the forest," Leona Allen of South Lake Tahoe's fire and police departments' dispatch centre told the Los Angeles Times."It's like a 100-ft wall of flame that's marching through the forest," Leona Allen of South Lake Tahoe's fire and police departments' dispatch centre told the Los Angeles Times.
"It's thick with smoke. You can't see your hand. You can't see anything across the street.""It's thick with smoke. You can't see your hand. You can't see anything across the street."
Lt Kevin House of the El Dorado County Sherriff's Department said it was "far and above the biggest disaster that has happened in this community".
Hunting areaHunting area
Fire officials had been warning of a potentially active wildfire season in the Sierra Nevada after an unusually dry winter, the Associated Press reported.Fire officials had been warning of a potentially active wildfire season in the Sierra Nevada after an unusually dry winter, the Associated Press reported.
The fire in Alaska broke out nearly a week ago and has destroyed dozens of homes and cabins in the scenic Kenai Peninsula.The fire in Alaska broke out nearly a week ago and has destroyed dozens of homes and cabins in the scenic Kenai Peninsula.
An evacuation order has been in effect since Friday, although an unknown number of people refused to leave.An evacuation order has been in effect since Friday, although an unknown number of people refused to leave.
Fire officials said cooler, damper weather had helped crews fight the blaze.Fire officials said cooler, damper weather had helped crews fight the blaze.
The area, some 80 miles (130km) south of Anchorage, is a popular hunting and snowmobiling destination.The area, some 80 miles (130km) south of Anchorage, is a popular hunting and snowmobiling destination.