California’s burning ... 5 die as wildfires rage

FLAMES leap towards the sky, colouring the smoke-choked surrounds an eerie orange, as a firefighter sprays water on the ground in a desperate attempt to slow the progress of a wildfire.

The blaze, accompanied by ‘tornadoes’ of flame whipped up by gale-force winds, continued in northern California yesterday as a grandfather told of his doomed race to save his wife and two great-grandchildren from the flames.

The three were among the five who have so far died in the inferno that continued to rage into a seventh day yesterday in Shasta county.

At least 38,000 have been evacuated and more than 500 buildings and 84,000 acres of land destroyed.

Melody Bledsoe, 70, and her greatgrandchildren James and Emily Roberts, four and five respectively, died when fire engulfed their home in Redding.

Mrs Bledsoe’s husband Ed, 76, was out buying supplies when he received a call from home telling him to hurry back because the fire was approaching but got stuck in traffic. He said he stayed on the phone ‘until the fire got them… I was trying to get to them’.

Two firefighters also died in the blaze that began a week ago.

At least 3,500 battled the fire at the weekend but it is expected to continue with more dry weather on the way.