2 dead, thousands flee their homes as California wildfire rages
Published:Saturday | July 28, 2018 | 9:10 AM
Raging wildfires in northern California have killed two firefighters and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
The fires have also destroyed at least 500 structures and are threatening thousands of homes.
Officials say the fires in Shasta County are being sucked up by strong winds to form what they described as "fire tornadoes" that are uprooting trees and overturning cars.
Firefighters report that so far they have contained just five per cent of the fires.
Officials say the wildfires started on Monday and have since scorched over 48,000 acres of land, an area larger than the city of San Francisco.
"We are seeing fire whirls - literally what can be described as a tornado," said California department of forestry and fire protection Chief Ken Pimlott.
"This fire was whipped up into a whirlwind of activity by gale-force winds, uprooting trees, moving vehicles and moving parts of roadways," he added.
We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-449-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.