Thousands evacuated as California wildfire rages
Thousands of people rushed to escape a massive wildfire charging across California's tinder-dry Sierra Nevada foothills and another out-of-control fire that broke out in Northern California, injuring four firefighters.
The northern fire began in Lake County, 160km north of San Francisco, and grew to about 39 sq km in just a few hours, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
The blaze has since exploded to more than 262 sq km amid triple-digit temperatures and land parched from several years of drought. A thick layer of smoke kept air tankers and helicopters from flying yesterday.
The fire forced the evacuation of two towns as well as residents along a 56km stretch of State Route 29.
The firefighters were airlifted to a hospital burn unit, where they were listed in stable condition, department spokesman Daniel Berlant said.
The fire so far has destroyed 86 homes, 51 outbuildings and was threatening about 6,400 more.
"I lost my business - it's all burned up - my shop, my house, 28 years of living," said Joe Thomas, who lives near Mountain Ranch. "I got to start all over. It's depressing."
A choking fog of smoke and ash turned California's grassy,...