Wildfires

Wildfires - British Columbia, Canada

Fast-moving wildfires in British Columbia have forced nearly 40,000 people to leave their homes and residents are flooding into crowded evacuation centers amid a provincial state of emergency.

The entire city of Williams Lake, six hours northeast of Vancouver, was ordered evacuated on the weekend. The community has a population of over 10,000.

Wind over the weekend also caused a flare-up of a huge fire that started near the Ashcroft Indian Band reserve, which has charred just over 154-square miles (400-square kilometers) west of Kamloops.

Near Kelowna, about 60 homes remained on evacuation alert in the community of Lake Country after a human-caused fire was sparked Friday, destroying eight homes.

Wildfires - California, USA

A wildfire burning in central California tripled in size Monday, forcing more people from their homes as firefighters battle the day-old blaze burning in steep areas with heavy brush and tall grass. The fire, burning near Lake McClure, a reservoir about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Modesto, has scorched 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) since it broke out Sunday afternoon. Officials have ordered evacuations for an unknown number of homes. The fire has destroyed one home and damaged another.

In Northern California, a 900-acre wildfire in Mendocino County has also triggered an evacuation of homes. That fire is 25 percent contained.

To the south, crews are struggling to surround a 28-square-mile (72-square-kilometer) blaze burning for more than a week in the mountains of Santa Barbara County. It is just 49 percent contained after destroying 16 homes.