EA rapidly spreading fire in the US state of California threatens more than 1,300 buildings.
The so-called Oak Fire broke out in the Mariposa district on Friday afternoon and spread over an area of more than 17 square kilometers within a few hours, the Calfire authority said on Saturday night.
Residents in the affected area southwest of Yosemite National Park have been asked to get to safety. More than 380 emergency services fought the flames with 43 fire engines and four helicopters. The cause of the fire initially remained unclear.
The rapid spread was due to “high temperatures, low humidity and extremely dry combustible material,” Calfire spokesman Robert Foxworthy said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. For the weekend there is therefore initially no all-clear.
The southwestern United States has been suffering from several forest fires for weeks, which the authorities say are favored by the persistent drought.
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