Almost 1,000 homes have been destroyed and seven people have died since the start of the year due to fires in America’s most populous state. But containment of the fire grew to 40 per cent Friday evening, up from 26 per cent Friday afternoon, according to the department.
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“It’s very comforting to know the house is still there”, Katie Havens said.
More than 17,000 firefighters struggled on Friday to contain dozens of large fires that have burned huge swaths of land and destroyed hundreds of buildings across 10 U.S. states, with parched California especially hard hit.
The news came as firefighters were taking the offensive to expand significant gains in corralling the fire. Californians are increasingly ignoring the orders, growing accustomed to wildfires as the region faces what could be the most hazardous season yet. She tried to rush home to rescue the family’s four dogs, six cats and hamster but was blocked by closed roads.
But the flames which have been raging in the mountains and desert east of Los Angeles continue to threaten more than 30,000 homes in communities including a ski resort.
The family ended up in a shelter where they learned from animal rescue volunteers that their house was destroyed and their pets were missing.
The blaze, which has scorched almost 58 square miles, was 26 percent contained.
He said the number of destroyed homes and buildings could have been much higher for such a powerful fire.
In mountains north of San Francisco, a 6-square-mile blaze was 75 percent contained after destroying 299 structures, including 175 homes and eight businesses, in the working-class community of Lower Lake.
The Blue Cut Fire started near an exit off Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County, which is a major artery from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Firefighters have gained more ground as they work to surround the huge wildfire east of Los Angeles.
Almost 1,600 firefighters are battling the Blue Cut wildfire east of Los Angeles.
The Blue Cut fire is one of almost 30 major blazes reported to have scorched hundreds of square miles in eight western states this week, in the midst of a wildfire season stoked by prolonged drought and unusually hot weather, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
Pitassi cautions, however, that there remains potential for explosive fire behavior. All evacuation orders have been canceled.
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Some 82,000 residents were ordered out of the area after the fire erupted Tuesday morning.
