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California hit by raging wildfire | California hit by raging wildfire |
(29 minutes 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. |
Officials say 460 firefighters are tackling the blaze and they expect that number to double during the day. | 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 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. |
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. | 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. |
In pictures: California fire | |
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". | 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 area | Hunting 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. |