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U.S. NEWS Saturday 7 July 2018

California fire kills 1 as heat stokes blazes in Western U.S.

HORNBROOK, Calif. (AP) — uge raised the possibility
A wildfire raging through of flooding at a stubborn
drought-stricken timber blaze in the southwestern
and brush near California's corner of the state.
border with Oregon killed Officials issued a flash flood
one person and destroyed watch for the 85-square-
multiple structures as it mile (220-square-kilometer)
burns largely out of control, area burned by a fire that
authorities said Friday. started June 1. They say
No other details were re- it is just smoldering and
leased about the death rain over the coming days
blamed on the fire that should keep it from spread-
threatened 300 homes ing.
near Hornbook, a town of Rain helped a fire in the
250 people about 14 miles heart of ski country that has
(22 kilometers) south of destroyed three houses, in-
the Oregon border. It's not cluding the home of a vol-
clear the flames burned unteer firefighter battling
homes or other structures the flames near the resort
like barns. town of Aspen. Gov. John
It was one of dozens of fires Hickenlooper visited the
across the dry American area Friday.
West, fueled by rising tem- It also offered relief in the
peratures and gusty winds southern Colorado moun-
that were expected to tains where a blaze has
last through the weekend. destroyed over 130 homes
Heat spreading from South- and forced the evacua-
ern California into parts tion of at least 2,000 prop-
of Arizona, Nevada and erties. The Spring Creek Fire
Utah threatened to worsen became the third-largest in
flames that have forced state history at 165 square
thousands of people to miles (427 square kilome-
evacuate and destroyed ters).
hundreds of homes across In this photo released Friday, July 6, 2018, by the California Highway Patrol, the Klamathon Fire In a Utah mountain area, a
the West. burns in Hornbrook, Calif. wildfire that destroyed 90
On the California-Oregon Associated Press structures and forced more
border, the fire ignited than 1,100 people to flee
Thursday and moved swiftly line. Although the flames nearly three times the size many as a dozen in Alpine, was growing, but fire of-
through the region that is have not crossed into Or- of San Francisco. according to journalists at ficials hoped to gain more
home to many retirees, said egon, officials are con- The fire, spanning 140 the scene. control after their work
Ray Haupt, chairman of the cerned people in remote square miles (360 square The 400-acre fire was only Friday. Many homes and
Siskiyou County Board of areas can't be reached in kilometers), was partially 5 percent contained, but cabins likely burned, while
Supervisors. case they need to quickly contained, but crews strug- crews had virtually stopped others may be sheds or ga-
"It moved so fast I'm not sure evacuate. gled in steep, rugged ter- its growth and were fo- rages. The fire spans about
how much time lagged The areas of concern in- rain. With the weather get- cusing on knocking down 75 square miles (193 square
between the evacuation clude the Pacific Crest ting hotter and drier, and hotspots that continue to kilometers) near a popular
and when it hit Hornbrook," Trail, Mount Ashland and officials said the fire could threatened houses and fishing reservoir about 80
he said. "It hit there pretty the Cascade-Siskiyou Na- grow. mobile homes, state fire of- miles (130 kilometers) south-
quick. We know we've lost tional Monument. Fire dan- About 75 miles east of Los ficials said. east of Salt Lake City, ac-
homes and lots of struc- ger could prohibit rescuers Angeles, a wildfire in the One firefighter was treated cording to the Utah Division
tures, including livestock from looking for anyone, San Bernardino National for minor facial burns. Forestry Fire State Lands.
and horses as well." the Jackson County Sher- Forest prompted manda- In the same county, a fire It has forced a 35-mile
California Gov. Jerry Brown iff's Office said. tory evacuations for the on the Camp Pendleton stretch of U.S. Highway 40
declared a state of emer- Elsewhere in California, a entire community of Forest Marine base prompted the to close since Wednesday,
gency, citing "extreme per- massive blaze northwest Falls, which has about 700 evacuation of 750 homes. said Sonya Capek, a fire
il" to people and property. of Sacramento had de- homes and about 1,000 In contrast, rain helped spokeswoman. Officials
Farther north in Oregon, stroyed nine homes, offi- residents. slow the growth of wild- believe human activity
authorities urged hikers and cials said. Firefighters had In San Diego County, a fires in Colorado that have sparked the blaze, but an
other outdoor enthusiasts to begun inspecting the fire fast-moving wildfire burned burned dozens of homes. exact cause hasn't been
avoid forests near the state zone, which covers an area at least five homes and as But the threat of a del- determined.q