Tragic plea of fire victim

A YOUNG boy pleaded for rescue before he died along with two others in a California fire, his anguished greatgrandfather recounted on Monday, while other shaken survivors told of their flight from a “tornado” of fire.

The worst blaze, in the US state’s north, has killed six people since Thursday, including a 70-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren aged four and five. They perished when flames swallowed their home in Redding.

Local media identified the victims (pictured) as Melody Bledsoe and the children, Emily Roberts and James Roberts, nicknamed “Junior.”

“I talked to Junior on the phone till he died,” Melody’s husband Ed Bledsoe told CNN, recounting the last words of the boy, his sister, and Mr Bledsoe’s wife.

“He said ‘Come and get me, the fire’s comin’ in the back door. Come on grandpa’,” Mr Bledsoe said, his voice choking.

All three told them that they loved him, before Mr Bledsoe assured the boy: “I’m on my way.” He couldn’t get there in time to save them.

Several wildfires in the area have turned close to 80,000ha into ashen wasteland.