Thousands more residents forced to flee California wildfires amid row over warnings

THOUSANDS MORE people have fled their homes after wildfires surged near a small lake town in Northern California.

In all, more than 15,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders from two blazes.

The fires in Mendocino and Lake counties are among 17 burning across the state, where fire crews are stretched to the limit – although the advance of the state’s largest, deadliest blaze has now slowed slightly.

The two blazes have destroyed six homes and are threatening 10,000 others. The fires had blackened 87 square miles, with minimal containment.

A man whose wife and two great-grandchildren are among the six people who died in the socalled Carr Fire, near Redding, California, said he did not receive any warning to evacuate.

Ed Bledsoe told CBS News he did not know his home was in danger when he left his wife Melody, and the four- and fiveyear-old children to run an errand. Mr Bledsoe said he received a phone call from his wife 15 minutes later saying he needed to get home because the fire was approaching. He said one of the children told him the blaze was at the back door. When he tried to return, the road was blocked with cars, and flames prevented him from returning on foot.

Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told the network there is an investigation into whether the Bledsoe home received a warning call. The sheriff insisted door-todoor notifications were made.

Authorities are also investigating at least 18 missing persons reports.