A firework at a gender reveal party triggered a wildfire in southern California that has scorched 2,800 hectares and forced many residents to flee their homes.
The Creek Fire, which started on Friday in steep and rugged terrain, has so far spread to 29,500 hectares, according to the US Forest Service, making it one of the largest blazes. Firefighter Ricardo Gomez of a San Benito Monterey Cal Fire crew sets a controlled burn with a drip torch while fighting the Creek Fire.Another rapidly-spreading fire near San Diego, Valley Fire, has so far spread to about 4,000 hectares and destroyed 11 structures, Cal Fire said.
California governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday declared a state of emergency for five counties affected by the Creek, El Dorado and Valley fires. "The fires have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of thousands of residents," the governor's office said.Record temperatures over the three-day Labor Day weekend have aggravated already dangerous fire conditions and further stressed exhausted California firefighters.
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