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11/22/2024 06:38:20 am

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Hundreds Flee as California Wildfires Spread Across Drought-Stricken State

California Wildfire

Firefighters protect an evacuated home while the fast-moving wildfire called "Sand Fire" burns behind, near Plymouth, California July 26, 2014. REUTERS/Max Whittaker

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes on Sunday after two raging wildfires engulfed drought-stricken areas in northern California.

In Madera County, about a thousand residents from 400 homes were relocated after 320 acres of forest went ablaze along the Bass Lake in Central California in what the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CalFire) named as the 'Courtney Fire.'

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According to Madera County authorities, the fire began at around 1:30 p.m. at a road in Oakhurst near the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park.

Erica Stuart, spokesperson for the Madera County Sheriff, said that 10 structures in the popular tourist area have already been destroyed.

400 firefighters have been deployed to fight the Courtney Fire while another 800 have responded to another wildfire further north.

A 2500-acre blaze dubbed as the 'King Fire' has charred a huge part of El Dorado County, forcing around 250 homes to evacuated.

Due to the blaze, residents of 400 other homes have also been advised to prepare to leave and proceed to evacuation sites set up at the Pollock Pines Community Center.

According to reports, the King Fire started on Saturday afternoon and continued to spread while firefighters were only able contain about 10 percent by nightfall.

Voluntary evacuations are advised for residents nearby, including areas west of Forebay Road from Blair Road to Pony Express Trail and along Lucky Mine Road, Badger Hill Road, Marmont Road, Old Blair Road, Applemont Ranch, Apple Creek Court, Baltimore Road, Longs Creek, Chickaree Lane, Quick Silver Court, and Quick Silver Road.

Meanwhile, the mandatory evacuation in place for 217 homes in Silverado Canyon was lifted on Sunday evening after the Silverado Fire was reported to be contained.

According to reports, more than a thousand firefighters had been deployed to combat the fire which began on Friday morning near Cleveland National Forest.

The Silverado Fire, which left three firefighters injured and charred 1,600 acres of land, quickly spread on Saturday after California was hit by a heat wave.

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