<p>Actor Gerard Butler has shared some upsetting images of his Malibu home destroyed in the Woolsey Fire, which has been blazing through Southern California.The 48-year-old took to social media to post the picture of the devastation.</p>

<p>"Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California," wrote the `300` actor. He also thanked the fire department saying, "Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDOMy5Fz69/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDOMy5Fz69/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDOMy5Fz69/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDOMy5Fz69/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment. If you can, support these brave men and women at SupportLAFD.org. Link in bio.</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gerardbutler/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Gerard Butler</a> (@gerardbutler) on <time datetime="2018-11-11T18:36:36+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 11, 2018 at 10:36am PST</time></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"Butler also shared in his Instagram stories his "half-gone" house. "Welcome to my home in Malibu. Half gone," he can be heard saying in the clips.As many as 23 people have died so far in the catastrophic fires which have burned over 1, 70,000 acres of land.<br />
<br />
Nearly 300,000 people have been displaced, including Hollywood celebrities like Kim Kardashian West and Lady Gaga.<br />
<br />
The blaze had started on Thursday night (local time), and moved towards Malibu and the Pacific Ocean, prompting evacuations in Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and other neighbouring regions.&nbsp;</p>


Actor Gerard Butler has shared some upsetting images of his Malibu home destroyed in the Woolsey Fire, which has been blazing through Southern California.The 48-year-old took to social media to post the picture of the devastation.

Actor Gerard Butler has shared some upsetting images of his Malibu home destroyed in the Woolsey Fire, which has been blazing through Southern California.The 48-year-old took to social media to post the picture of the devastation. "Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California," wrote the `300` actor. He also thanked the fire department saying, "Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment. View this post on Instagram Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment. If you can, support these brave men and women at SupportLAFD.org. Link in bio. A post shared by Gerard Butler (@gerardbutler) on Nov 11, 2018 at 10:36am PST × "Butler also shared in his Instagram stories his "half-gone" house. "Welcome to my home in Malibu. Half gone," he can be heard saying in the clips.As many as 23 people have died so far in the catastrophic fires which have burned over 1, 70,000 acres of land. Nearly 300,000 people have been displaced, including Hollywood celebrities like Kim Kardashian West and Lady Gaga. The blaze had started on Thursday night (local time), and moved towards Malibu and the Pacific Ocean, prompting evacuations in Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and other neighbouring regions.

Gerard Butler's Malibu house destroyed in fire, shares pictures of 'half-gone' house

<p>The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rescue-workers-recover-multiple-bodies-in-fire-hit-california-town-176589">rescue workers recovered several bodies</a> of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff.</p>

<p>"Today 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea said.</p>

<p>The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, California, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento left devastated by the 'Camp Fire'.</p>

<p>Firefighters&nbsp;are battling two monster wildfires in northern and southern California which burned out of control on Saturday. The massive fires has already killed at least nine people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.</p>

<p>According to a report by Reuters, the Camp Fire has burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses in Paradise, more structures than any other California wildfire on record.</p>

<p>An additional 35 people had been reported missing and three firefighters had been injured.</p>

<p>From miles around, acrid smoke could be seen in the sky around Paradise, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars were reduced to metal carcasses, while power lines were also gnawed by the flames.</p>

<p>Governor-elect Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to provide assistance to the hardest-hit areas in the fire-prone state.</p>

<p>Fanned by strong winds, the 'Camp fire' has so far scorched 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and is 20 per cent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile,&nbsp;President Trump, who was in France for World War I commemorations, drew criticism online after he blamed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blames-forest-mismanagement-for-california-wildfire-176536">fires on forest mismanagement and threatened to withdrew related federal funding</a>.</p>

<p>"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!"</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from news agencies)</em></p>


The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after rescue workers recovered several bodies of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff.

The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after rescue workers recovered several bodies of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff. "Today 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea said. The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, California, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento left devastated by the 'Camp Fire'. Firefighters are battling two monster wildfires in northern and southern California which burned out of control on Saturday. The massive fires has already killed at least nine people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. According to a report by Reuters, the Camp Fire has burned down more than 6,700 homes and businesses in Paradise, more structures than any other California wildfire on record. An additional 35 people had been reported missing and three firefighters had been injured. From miles around, acrid smoke could be seen in the sky around Paradise, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars were reduced to metal carcasses, while power lines were also gnawed by the flames. Governor-elect Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to provide assistance to the hardest-hit areas in the fire-prone state. Fanned by strong winds, the 'Camp fire' has so far scorched 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and is 20 per cent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said Saturday. Meanwhile, President Trump, who was in France for World War I commemorations, drew criticism online after he blamed fires on forest mismanagement and threatened to withdrew related federal funding. "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump tweeted. "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!" (With inputs from news agencies)

California forest fires: Death toll rises to 23

<p>Rescue workers recovered multiple bodies on Saturday from the charred remains of residences in a California town ravaged by the most destructive fire to hit the US state.</p>

<p>Firefighters are battling raging blazes at both ends of California, but there is little hope of containing the flames anytime soon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>More than 250,000 people have been ordered to evacuate a wide area near the state capital Sacramento and, in southern California, the Hollywood resort town of Malibu.</p>

<p>In the town of Paradise, in Butte County, rescuers removed remains over a period of several hours and placed them in a black hearse. Pieces of bodies were transported by bucket, while intact remains were carried in body bags.</p>

<p>So far, all the dead have been reported in Paradise, where more than 6,700 buildings -- most of them residences -- have been consumed by the late-season inferno.</p>

<p>US President Donald Trump put the death toll at 11 on Saturday evening -- a count that seemed set to rise with bodies being recovered in Paradise.</p>

<p>"Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died," Trump tweeted.</p>

<p>From miles around, acrid smoke could be seen in the sky around Paradise, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars were reduced to metal carcasses, while power lines were also gnawed by the flames.</p>

<p>Locals fled the danger, but police told AFP some farmers returned to check on their cattle.</p>

<p>"The magnitude of destruction we have seen is really unbelievable and heartbreaking, and our hearts go to everybody who has been affected by this," said Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Office of Emergency Services.</p>

<p>Governor-elect Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to provide assistance to the hardest-hit areas in the fire-prone state.</p>

<p>The fast-moving blaze in the north, which authorities have named the "Camp Fire," broke out early Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fanned by strong winds, it has so far scorched 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and is 20 per cent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said Saturday. So far, three of the more than 3,200 firefighters deployed have been injured.</p>

<p>They estimate they will need three weeks to fully contain the blaze.</p>

<p>Local power authorities have told state officials an outage occurred near the spot where the fire erupted, The Sacramento Bee reported, but there is still no official cause of the Camp blaze.</p>

<p>Trump, who was in France for World War I commemorations, drew criticism online for his somewhat unsympathetic reaction to the devastation earlier on Saturday.</p>

<p>"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!"</p>

<p><strong>Malibu mansions in flames</strong></p>

<p>In southern California, more wildfires burned, including one just north of Los Angeles and another in Ventura County near Thousand Oaks, where a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Authorities said some 200,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, including the entire city of Malibu.</p>

<p>The "Woolsey Fire" had consumed around 69,000 acres, destroyed at least 150 homes and was so far not contained, the Ventura County Fire Department said, adding that evacuation orders were issued for some 88,000 homes in the county and neighbouring Los Angeles County.</p>

<p>"We heard this was coming so we set up the sprinklers and we hosed the whole house down," said Malibu resident Patrick Henry. "We pretty much had enough time to get the dogs in the trunk."</p>

<p>Malibu is one of the most in-demand locations in California for stars seeking privacy and luxury.</p>

<p>Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, who lives just north of coastal Malibu, revealed she was forced to flee her home.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I heard the flames have hit our property at our home in Hidden Hills but now are more contained and have stopped at the moment," she said on Twitter. "I just pray the winds are in our favour."</p>

<p>Actor Martin Sheen, briefly reported missing by his actor son Charlie, was also forced to evacuate.</p>

<p>"We're fine, we're at Zuma Beach and we're probably going to sleep in the car tonight," Martin Sheen told Fox News 11, adding that it was the worst fire he had seen in 48 years of living in Malibu.</p>

<p>The wildfire reached Paramount Ranch, destroying the Western Town sets used for hundreds of productions including HBO'S sci-fi western "Westworld," officials and the network said.</p>

<p>Director Guillermo del Toro tweeted that Bleak House, his museum of horror movie memorabilia, was also in the path of the flames.</p>

<p><strong>Utter devastation</strong></p>

<p>In Paradise, the flames destroyed hundreds of homes, a hospital, a gas station, several restaurants and numerous vehicles, officials said.</p>

<p>Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for more than 52,000 people in the scenic area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.</p>

<p>"The whole lower side of Paradise is totally engulfed in flames right now," Kevin Winstead, a resident of nearby Magalia, told KIEM TV.</p>

<p>"Not one home will be left standing," he said. "I'm devastated."</p>

<p>The National Weather Service said Saturday strong winds and dry conditions were to continue through the weekend.</p>


Rescue workers recovered multiple bodies on Saturday from the charred remains of residences in a California town ravaged by the most destructive fire to hit the US state.

Rescue workers recovered multiple bodies on Saturday from the charred remains of residences in a California town ravaged by the most destructive fire to hit the US state. Firefighters are battling raging blazes at both ends of California, but there is little hope of containing the flames anytime soon. More than 250,000 people have been ordered to evacuate a wide area near the state capital Sacramento and, in southern California, the Hollywood resort town of Malibu. In the town of Paradise, in Butte County, rescuers removed remains over a period of several hours and placed them in a black hearse. Pieces of bodies were transported by bucket, while intact remains were carried in body bags. So far, all the dead have been reported in Paradise, where more than 6,700 buildings -- most of them residences -- have been consumed by the late-season inferno. US President Donald Trump put the death toll at 11 on Saturday evening -- a count that seemed set to rise with bodies being recovered in Paradise. "Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died," Trump tweeted. From miles around, acrid smoke could be seen in the sky around Paradise, the sun barely visible. On the ground, cars were reduced to metal carcasses, while power lines were also gnawed by the flames. Locals fled the danger, but police told AFP some farmers returned to check on their cattle. "The magnitude of destruction we have seen is really unbelievable and heartbreaking, and our hearts go to everybody who has been affected by this," said Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Office of Emergency Services. Governor-elect Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to provide assistance to the hardest-hit areas in the fire-prone state. The fast-moving blaze in the north, which authorities have named the "Camp Fire," broke out early Thursday. Fanned by strong winds, it has so far scorched 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) and is 20 per cent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said Saturday. So far, three of the more than 3,200 firefighters deployed have been injured. They estimate they will need three weeks to fully contain the blaze. Local power authorities have told state officials an outage occurred near the spot where the fire erupted, The Sacramento Bee reported, but there is still no official cause of the Camp blaze. Trump, who was in France for World War I commemorations, drew criticism online for his somewhat unsympathetic reaction to the devastation earlier on Saturday. "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump tweeted. "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!" Malibu mansions in flames In southern California, more wildfires burned, including one just north of Los Angeles and another in Ventura County near Thousand Oaks, where a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday. Authorities said some 200,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, including the entire city of Malibu. The "Woolsey Fire" had consumed around 69,000 acres, destroyed at least 150 homes and was so far not contained, the Ventura County Fire Department said, adding that evacuation orders were issued for some 88,000 homes in the county and neighbouring Los Angeles County. "We heard this was coming so we set up the sprinklers and we hosed the whole house down," said Malibu resident Patrick Henry. "We pretty much had enough time to get the dogs in the trunk." Malibu is one of the most in-demand locations in California for stars seeking privacy and luxury. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, who lives just north of coastal Malibu, revealed she was forced to flee her home. "I heard the flames have hit our property at our home in Hidden Hills but now are more contained and have stopped at the moment," she said on Twitter. "I just pray the winds are in our favour." Actor Martin Sheen, briefly reported missing by his actor son Charlie, was also forced to evacuate. "We're fine, we're at Zuma Beach and we're probably going to sleep in the car tonight," Martin Sheen told Fox News 11, adding that it was the worst fire he had seen in 48 years of living in Malibu. The wildfire reached Paramount Ranch, destroying the Western Town sets used for hundreds of productions including HBO'S sci-fi western "Westworld," officials and the network said. Director Guillermo del Toro tweeted that Bleak House, his museum of horror movie memorabilia, was also in the path of the flames. Utter devastation In Paradise, the flames destroyed hundreds of homes, a hospital, a gas station, several restaurants and numerous vehicles, officials said. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for more than 52,000 people in the scenic area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. "The whole lower side of Paradise is totally engulfed in flames right now," Kevin Winstead, a resident of nearby Magalia, told KIEM TV. "Not one home will be left standing," he said. "I'm devastated." The National Weather Service said Saturday strong winds and dry conditions were to continue through the weekend.

Rescue workers recover multiple bodies in fire-hit California town

A wildfire that spread into a small Northern California town over the weekend destroyed more than 175 homes and businesses, authorities said on Monday, as crews fought to save more dwellings from the flames.<br />
<br />
The so-called Clayton fire, named for the creek near where it broke out, was driven by fierce winds into the foothill community of Lower Lake, some 80 miles (129 km) north of San Francisco, forcing hundreds of residents to flee. That fire broke out on Saturday evening.<br />
<br />
A damage assessment team was working to determine how many structures were lost, said Daniel Berlant of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He said many homes were damaged or lost.<br />
<br />
There were no reports of casualties, Berlant said, but Lake County sheriffs deputies were investigating burned-out structures. The nearby community of Clear Lake was also evacuated.<br />
<br />
As winds abated on Sunday evening crews made progress cutting containment lines around the flames and putting out hot spots, Berlant said. &quot;As temperatures heat back up again today it&#39;s likely fire conditions will increase.&quot;<br />
<br />
&quot;We&#39;ve got over 1,600 firefighters ready to go to battle again when that happens.&quot;<br />
<br />
The cause of the Clayton fire, which has blackened more than 3,000 acres, was under investigation. Fire managers said it was about 5 percent contained as of Monday morning.<br />
<br />
The conflagration is one of 24 major wildfires burning across the drought-parched US. West which all together have charred nearly 300,000 acres.<br />
<br />
The so-called Chimney fire, which erupted on Saturday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County, had scorched more than 4,300 acres in less than 48 hours, destroying 20 structures and threatening some 150 others as hundreds of residents were told to evacuate.<br />
<br />
That blaze, which broke out near Chimney Rock Road, was only 10 percent contained as of Monday morning.<br />
<br />
The Soberanes fire, one of the largest so far this season, has burnt through more than 72,000 acres near scenic Big Sur, destroying 57 homes and 11 outbuildings since it broke out on July 22. It was 60 percent contained as of Monday.<br />
<br />
A bulldozer operator died on July 26 when his tractor rolled over as he helped property owners battle the flames, the sixth wildfire fatality in California this year.<br />
<br />
Authorities have traced origins of the Soberanes fire to an illegal campfire left unattended in a state park about a mile from Highway 1. No arrests have been made so far.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

There were no reports of casualties even as the burned-out structures are being investigated

A wildfire that spread into a small Northern California town over the weekend destroyed more than 175 homes and businesses, authorities said on Monday, as crews fought to save more dwellings from the flames. The so-called Clayton fire, named for the creek near where it broke out, was driven by fierce winds into the foothill community of Lower Lake, some 80 miles (129 km) north of San Francisco, forcing hundreds of residents to flee. That fire broke out on Saturday evening. A damage assessment team was working to determine how many structures were lost, said Daniel Berlant of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He said many homes were damaged or lost. There were no reports of casualties, Berlant said, but Lake County sheriffs deputies were investigating burned-out structures. The nearby community of Clear Lake was also evacuated. As winds abated on Sunday evening crews made progress cutting containment lines around the flames and putting out hot spots, Berlant said. "As temperatures heat back up again today it's likely fire conditions will increase." "We've got over 1,600 firefighters ready to go to battle again when that happens." The cause of the Clayton fire, which has blackened more than 3,000 acres, was under investigation. Fire managers said it was about 5 percent contained as of Monday morning. The conflagration is one of 24 major wildfires burning across the drought-parched US. West which all together have charred nearly 300,000 acres. The so-called Chimney fire, which erupted on Saturday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County, had scorched more than 4,300 acres in less than 48 hours, destroying 20 structures and threatening some 150 others as hundreds of residents were told to evacuate. That blaze, which broke out near Chimney Rock Road, was only 10 percent contained as of Monday morning. The Soberanes fire, one of the largest so far this season, has burnt through more than 72,000 acres near scenic Big Sur, destroying 57 homes and 11 outbuildings since it broke out on July 22. It was 60 percent contained as of Monday. A bulldozer operator died on July 26 when his tractor rolled over as he helped property owners battle the flames, the sixth wildfire fatality in California this year. Authorities have traced origins of the Soberanes fire to an illegal campfire left unattended in a state park about a mile from Highway 1. No arrests have been made so far. (Reuters)

Wildfire in California burns more than 175 homes

california-fire

California Fire, News on California Fire, stories on California Fire, articles on California Fire, California Fire stories at Wion, California Fire news, California Fire latest news

california fire

Gerard Butler's Malibu house destroyed in fire, shares pictures of 'half-gone' house

California forest fires: Death toll rises to 23

Rescue workers recover multiple bodies in fire-hit California town

Wildfire in California burns more than 175 homes