California Wildfire Destroys Four Homes, Forces 1,000s To Flee

U.S. Marion Schneider
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Flames racing from the dry brush in California have destroyed four homes forcing over 1,000 residents to flee and made firefighters move animals out of the northern California lake community.

Authorities ordered 1,200 residents to leave their homes as the wildfire moved to the east of Lower Lake. It spread to over 2 square miles by Sunday, as crews faced little cloud cover and hot weather when they tried to handle the flames burning out of control.

More evacuations were ordered in the northeast of Lower Lake, Copsey Creek subdivision, where the blaze moved past a containment line, setting a number of houses ablaze and prompting firefighters as well as volunteers to evacuate goats, horses, and other animals as the fire spread rapidly.

Homes burned on either side of Highway 140. Propane tanks exploded, spewing balls of fire and making a hissing noise. Firefighters and volunteers moved swiftly to carry two goats out of the region, as utility poles and tractors burned and bumpers melted off vehicles.

Over 700 firefighters have been battling the wildfire burning in Lake County at the east of Highway 29.

The fire was spreading rapidly and throwing embers because of the parched weather conditions brought by the state’s historical drought, authorities said. In the wake of this event, large, explosive fires have spread through hard to reach or dried-out regions in California this summer, including the stubborn blaze close to the Big Sur coastline which has burned over 113 square miles since beginning in late July destroying close to 60 homes.

In the Lake County area, the wildfire threatened the homes of an additional 3,000 residents in Hidden Valley Lake. Inhabitants of the region have been told to remain vigilant in case the need to evacuate arises.