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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| California hit by raging wildfire | California hit by raging wildfire |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| California has declared a state of emergency and may seek federal help. | |
| The number of firefighters deployed has risen to more than 700 but thick smoke has kept helicopters grounded. | |
| 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 fire spread 81 square miles (210 sq km) before being slowed by rain. | The fire spread 81 square miles (210 sq km) before being slowed by rain. |
| In pictures: California fire | In pictures: California fire |
| 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". | |
| He said there were no reports of anyone missing but that officials had not yet been able to check the area affected. | |
| 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. |
| Hunting area | |
| 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. They hope to contain it before the arrival of drier weather forecast later in the week. | |
| 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. |