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| California wildfire doubles in size overnight | California wildfire doubles in size overnight |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A central California wildfire threatening thousands of homes doubled in size overnight to 111 square miles (288 sq-km), authorities have said. | A central California wildfire threatening thousands of homes doubled in size overnight to 111 square miles (288 sq-km), authorities have said. |
| More than 3,600 firefighters are battling the King fire, 60 miles (97km) east of Sacramento. | More than 3,600 firefighters are battling the King fire, 60 miles (97km) east of Sacramento. |
| The blaze has consumed wide swathes of timber in Eldorado National Forest and is only 5% contained. | The blaze has consumed wide swathes of timber in Eldorado National Forest and is only 5% contained. |
| "It's been an explosive couple of days," CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant told the Associated Press news agency. | "It's been an explosive couple of days," CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Widespread drought in the state has fuelled an active wildfire season. | Widespread drought in the state has fuelled an active wildfire season. |
| As of early this week, California firefighters have battled more than 4,800 wildfires this year and were currently fighting 11 major fires, according to a local broadcaster. | As of early this week, California firefighters have battled more than 4,800 wildfires this year and were currently fighting 11 major fires, according to a local broadcaster. |
| Many of the people ordered to evacuate their homes were in Pollack Pines, 60 miles east of Sacramento. | Many of the people ordered to evacuate their homes were in Pollack Pines, 60 miles east of Sacramento. |
| Crews have been battling the fire for five days, but most of the losses have not been residences. | Crews have been battling the fire for five days, but most of the losses have not been residences. |
| "We have had significant losses of public timber land, private timber land and watershed," Laurence Crabtree, a US Forest Service supervisor told the Sacramento Bee. | "We have had significant losses of public timber land, private timber land and watershed," Laurence Crabtree, a US Forest Service supervisor told the Sacramento Bee. |
| Further north, a blaze destroyed parts of the town of Weed, burning 110 homes and damaging 90. | Further north, a blaze destroyed parts of the town of Weed, burning 110 homes and damaging 90. |
| High winds drove the fire quickly across town after it began on Monday. Two churches, a community centre and a library also burned to the ground. | |
| Four firefighters lost their homes. | Four firefighters lost their homes. |
| The Reverend Bill Hofer, pastor of Weed Berean Church, told the AP he was planning to return on Wednesday night - despite an evacuation order - to deter vandalism. | The Reverend Bill Hofer, pastor of Weed Berean Church, told the AP he was planning to return on Wednesday night - despite an evacuation order - to deter vandalism. |
| "The more people home with the lights on, the better," he said. | "The more people home with the lights on, the better," he said. |