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| Fires cause California evacuation | Fires cause California evacuation |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A firefighter has died and thousands of people have been told to leave their homes as wildfires burn in California. | A firefighter has died and thousands of people have been told to leave their homes as wildfires burn in California. |
| One of the largest fires has swept through about 50,000 acres of forest along the famous Big Sur coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles. | One of the largest fires has swept through about 50,000 acres of forest along the famous Big Sur coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles. |
| Some fire officials have questioned whether the state can cope. | Some fire officials have questioned whether the state can cope. |
| As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, Californians are being urged to show restraint with traditional fireworks displays. | As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day, Californians are being urged to show restraint with traditional fireworks displays. |
| See the fires in detailEnlarge Image | |
| More than 1,000 fires are burning over half a million acres of California countryside, and the flames have now claimed their first life - a 63-year-old volunteer firefighter in the north of the state. | More than 1,000 fires are burning over half a million acres of California countryside, and the flames have now claimed their first life - a 63-year-old volunteer firefighter in the north of the state. |
| Most of the fires are in sparsely populated areas. | Most of the fires are in sparsely populated areas. |
| Still, more than 8,000 homes are at risk and people in parts of three counties have been ordered to evacuate. | Still, more than 8,000 homes are at risk and people in parts of three counties have been ordered to evacuate. |
| Members of California's National Guard have been drafted in to help. | Members of California's National Guard have been drafted in to help. |
| John Scherrei, chief of the Santa Barbara Fire Department, says firefighters are hard pressed to cope. | John Scherrei, chief of the Santa Barbara Fire Department, says firefighters are hard pressed to cope. |
| "Could we use more resources? Absolutely. California is stretched thin," he told the Associated Press news agency. | "Could we use more resources? Absolutely. California is stretched thin," he told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "We have requests in for additional resources, and we don't know how long we can hold on to what we have." | "We have requests in for additional resources, and we don't know how long we can hold on to what we have." |
| Have you been affected by the fires? Send us your experiences using the form below. | |
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