Sacramento, Sept 9
Fueled by excessive heat and drought, several large wildfires raged across the western US, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and worrying climate experts about more fires in the coming days.
In Northern California, a wildfire called the Boyles Fire erupted on Sunday afternoon in the town of Clearlake, located in Lake County north of the Bay Area, news agency reported.
The fire has rapidly consumed 76 acres (about 0.3 square km) in just three hours, with 10 per cent containment achieved so far, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) said.
The agency has declared the fire "an immediate threat to life," urging residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately. Approximately 30 structures are "involved" in the blaze, and around 4,000 residents in the town have been displaced from evacuation zones, said the agency in a fire update.
In Southern California, the situation was even more dire. A wildfire called the Line Fire, which broke out on Thursday in San Bernardino County, has grown exponentially, quadrupling in size on Saturday.
Soaring temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38 degrees Celsius) and "critically dry" vegetation contributed to its rapid expansion toward the San Bernardino Mountains.
More than 600 firefighters have been dispatched to contain the Line Fire, but steep terrain and limited access have impaired their ability to reach some areas.