Wildfires

Wildfires - California

A wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 500 homes and about 1,200 residents in a rural area east of the California state capital Sacramento on Saturday, a day after the blaze broke out, fire officials said.

The wind-swept fire burned more than 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), destroying five residences and two outbuildings and causing one minor injury. The fire is centred about 5 miles (8 km) north of the town of Plymouth and 30 miles east of Sacramento in north central California and it covers parts of Amador and El Dorado counties, according to Cal Fire.

About 250 homes were ordered evacuated on Saturday afternoon, bringing the total number to 515 since the blaze erupted on Friday, Tolmachoff said.

Wildfires in Sweden

A wide-ranging wildfire is burning in the Vehmersalmi district of Kuopio, spreading to 10 hectares of land. Rescue services say the fire has not yet been retained and fire fighting operations are expected to go on well into the night.

Fire-fighting efforts are being complicated by a strong wind that is effectively spreading the flames. The cause of the fire has not been established, but the Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a forest fire warning for most of the country due to the very hot and dry weather.

Three separate wildfires have also broken out near the city of Lappeenranta and one near Luumäki. 12 different firefighting units are battling the blazes, incorporating 80 firefighters. A Boarder Guard helicopter is also in use.