Oak Fire: Wildfire grows as firefighters battle punishing heat
A fast-moving wildfire in California continues to grow in size, firefighters say, as they struggle through sweltering temperatures.
2022-07-25 19:53:25 - VI News Staff
The Oak Fire has now burned 16,791 acres of land and is only about 10% contained, California's fire department said on Monday.
The blaze has forced the evacuation of over 6,000 people, many of whom have been staying in temporary shelters.
Firefighters are still combating the blaze in steep, rugged terrain.
Mariposa county has set up an emergency evacuation centre for those forced to flee.
There, the BBC saw rows of camp beds arranged in classrooms, with people playing games to try to take their minds of what might be happening to their homes.
As dusk approached on Sunday, the sky over the centre had turned yellow and orange, while a grey streak of smoke hung over the town. One resident remarked how "pretty" it looked, shaking her head.