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Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate a wildfire that exploded on Thursday, threatening several communities in northern California and forcing panicked residents to rush to help neighbors struck by lightning. to cross walls in flames.
It was not known immediately if there had been injuries or deaths.
Butte County Sheriff spokeswoman Miranda Bowersox said the entire city of Paradise, a city of about 27,000 residents, located 290 km northeast of San Francisco, had received the 39; order to evacuate.
"It's bad," said Butte County Sheriff's Enterprise-Record, Kory Honea. "We are trying to get as many people in as quickly as possible and to save as many lives as possible."
Rick Carhart, a spokesman for Cal Fire, said the fire would have occurred at 6:30 in the morning, affecting around 30,000 people in the cities of Paradise, Concow and other small localities.
"The fire is fueled by strong winds," Carhart said. "It is very dry and the humidity rate is low.Unfortunately, these conditions are conducive to the spread of a fire."
A thick gray smoke and ashes invaded the sky above paradise and were seen from afar.
Health Feather River Adventist Hospital in Paradise evacuated all of its patients and staff, given its proximity to the fire, and safely transported them to hospitals in nearby cities, said Jill Kinney, spokesperson for Adventist Health. She said that she did not know the exact number of evacuees.
Four of the hospital's employees were briefly trapped in the basement and rescued by officers from the California Highway Patrol, Kinney said.
Enloe Medical Center, located in the neighboring city of Chico, has received 24 patients, said spokeswoman Jolene Francis. Other patients were taken to the Oroville hospital in Oroville.
Shary Bernacett said that she and her husband had tried to get people out of the park of mobile homes that they manage in paradise and that they had a few minutes left to evacuate, the flames having reached the East of the city.
Bernacett said she and her husband had "knocked on doors, shouted and shouted" to alert as many residents as possible of 53 mobile homes and recreational vehicles.
"My husband did his best to get everyone out.The whole hill is on fire, may God help us!" Said Bernacett before crumbling in tears.
She and her husband grabbed their dog, jumped into their van and went through the flames before getting on the highway 99, she said.
Carhart said officials were sending as many crews as they could muster.
"Every engine we could ignite is burning and others are coming," he said. "We are bringing dozens of strike teams from all parts of the state."
Tina Greer, a resident of Chico, west of the fire, said the nursing home where her disabled son lives with five other patients was evacuating. She added that it took time to pack the patient's medical supplies and medications. His 25-year-old son has cerebral palsy, needs a wheelchair to get around and is powered by a probe.
"They need time to get ready," she said. "There is a lot to move."
Greer said that strong ashes were falling in Chico.
The California Highway Patrol closed a nearby highway and urged motorists to avoid the area.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings about fire hazards in many parts of the state, indicating that low humidity and strong winds are expected to continue until 39. Friday night.
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