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Hundreds of homes threatened by California wildfires

At least 18 homes lost and another 1,500 threatened as flames churn through tinder-dry canyons north of Los Angeles.

California Wildfires
Fire burns brush on a hillside during the so-called Sand Fire in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles, California, U.S. [Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters]
Published On 26 Jul 2016

A massive wildfire destroyed at least 18 homes and threatened 1,500 more as flames churned through tinder-dry canyons north of Los Angeles.

The fire on Sunday had gained ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded for part of the afternoon.

About 480km up the coast, crews were battling another fire spanning more than 44sq km that destroyed six homes on Sunday and forced evacuations outside the scenic Big Sur region.

About 900 firefighters were battling the blaze in temperatures exceeding 41C, aided by 28 water-dropping helicopters and eight fixed-winged aircraft.

California Wildfires
Thousands of homes remained evacuated on Sunday as two massive wildfires raged in tinder-dry California hills and canyons. [Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters]
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California Wildfires
Firefighters battle flames in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles. [Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters]
California Wildfires
California people take pictures of a firefighting helicopter in the Angeles National Forest. [Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters]
California Wildfires
Members of hand crew rest on a hillside near Placenta Canyon Road as a wildfire burns. [Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP]
California Wildfires
Firefighters have been trying to beat back a fire since Friday that has blackened more than 88 square kilometres of brush on ridge lines near the city of Santa Clarita and the Angeles National Forest. [Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters]
California Wildfires
Residents in the Fair Oaks Ranch area evacuate from homes as a wildfire moves closer to the neighbourhood. [Katharine Lotze/The Santa Clarita Valley Signal/AP]
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California Wildfires
A firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant on the fire in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles. [Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters]
California Wildfires
A burned pirate sculpture stands at the end of Iron Canyon Road off Sand Canyon. Two massive wildfires raged in tinder-dry California hills and canyons on Sunday, leaving thousands of homes evacuated and authorities to investigate a burned body found in a neighbourhood swept by flames. [Matt Hartman/AP]