Thousands rush to escape 2 fast-moving California wildfires

Th<g data-gr-id="30">ousands of peo</g>ple rushed to escape one massive wildfire charging across California’s tinder-dry Sierra Nevada foothills and another out-of-control fire that broke out in Northern California, sending four firefighters to the hospital with burns.

The northern fire began in Lake County, 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of San Francisco, and grew to about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) in just a few hours, the California Department of 

Forestry and Fire Protection said on Saturday.

The blaze has since exploded to more than 101 square miles (262 square kilometers) amid triple-digit temperatures and land parched from several years of drought. A thick layer of smoke kept air tankers and helicopters from flying yesterday.

The fire forced the evacuation of two towns as well as residents along a 35-mile (56-kilometer) stretch of State Route 29.

The firefighters were airlifted to a hospital burn unit, where they were listed in stable condition, department spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

The fire so far has destroyed 86 homes, 51 outbuildings and was threatening about 6,400 more. “I lost my business it’s all burned up my shop, my house, 28 years of living,” said Joe Thomas, who lives near Mountain Ranch. “I got to start all over. It’s depressing.” 

A choking fog of smoke and ash turned California’s grassy, tree-studded Gold Country an eerie white. Away from the burned-out cars and smoldering remains of homes, Annette Stout and other residents who fled rested at evacuation centers. “I grabbed my cats, their carriers, important papers, my husband death’s certificate and his ashes,” said Stout.

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and more than 3,850 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. Its cause is under investigation.