Huge wildfires force the evacuation of 5,000 people as the four-day-old blaze threatens 1,500 homes across California’s historic Gold Rush region

Thursday, July 20, 2017
By Paul Martin

California Governor Jerry Brown called a state of emergency on Tuesday as a result of the raging fires
The wildfires have so far destroyed 29 homes while officials claim a further 1,500 are under threat
Firefighters have deployed air tankers and helicopters to drop retardant on the blaze from the sky

DARREN BOYLE
DAILYMAIL.COM
20 July 2017

Wildfires across California have forced the evacuation of 5,000 people as the blaze threatens 1,500 homes across the state’s historic Gold Rush region.

A blaze burning in foothills west of Yosemite National Park destroyed dozens of structures and forced thousands to flee Gold Rush-era towns but fire crews have been able to stop it from reaching a threatened community on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

The fire was threatening about 1,500 homes and other buildings, after already destroying 29 structures.

It’s not clear what type of buildings burned.

The flames are near Highway 49, a historical route winding its way up California foothills of the western Sierra Nevada dotted with little towns that sprouted along the gold Mother Lode that drew miners to California in the 1800s.

The Detwiler fire has so far affected 48,000 acres and according to officials has only been seven per cent contained.

In response, 3,175 firefighters using 413 fire engines have been deployed, along with nine air tankers, 14 helicopters, 70 dozers and 57 water tenders.

The Rest…HERE

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