50,000 people evacuated as wildfires rage in California

About 50,000 people have been ordered to flee their homes north of the US city of Los Angeles, California, as a fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds erupted and raged out of control.

The so-called Tick Fire near Santa Clarita, 65km (40 miles) north of Los Angeles, broke out on Thursday and quickly consumed 2,023 hectares (5,000 acres), fire officials said.

The blaze burned several homes and structures and forced the closure of a major highway and a number of roads, as about 500 firefighters backed by air tankers and helicopters battled the flames. There were no immediate reports of casualties. "We are urging everybody to evacuate at this time," a spokesman for the fire department said.

In northern California wine country, about 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a brush fire erupted late on Wednesday, California fire officials said. About 500 responders battled the blaze fed by wind gusts topping 113km/h (70 miles/h).

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the community of Geyserville and nearby vineyards after the fire started in a mountainous area and quickly spread, crossing a highway and moving towards homes, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said. "If you're in Geyserville, leave now," the sheriff's office advised, citing an extraordinary threat to life and property.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/50000-people-evacuated-wildfires-rage-california-191025061005091.html