Wildfire grows as heatwave hits

Crews scrambled to protect homes from a huge wildfire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles and officials warned the blaze could flare up again as a blistering heatwave descended on California. The fire exploded in size within hours after it broke out in dense forest on Thursday afternoon, sending up a towering plume visible for hundreds of miles around. Flames raced across ridges and steep slopes, including in some areas that had not burned since 1968, fire officials said. By yesterday, the blaze had consumed nearly 42sq km of timber and brush. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. It’s one of several wildfires burning in the region. The heatwave was expected to last throughout the weekend, bringing triple-digit temperatures and extreme fire danger to large portions of California.