The scale of the massive gorse fire on the Glenshane Pass in County Londonderry becoems clear thanks to drone footage.

Mark Smyth, Group Commander for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), says it is believed the fire was started by "human error".

He says it has been one of NIFRS' most difficult incident. Thanks to Kevin McCloskey for the footage. </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Gorse fire on Glenshane Pass

Firefighters will maintain a watching brief overnight at the scene of a gorse fire on the Glenshane Pass in County Londonderry.

The fire is in a remote area of the Sperrins near Dungiven.

Mark Smyth from the NI Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said "great progress" had been made throughout Thursday.

He said there is a possibility the fire could burn out overnight, but if it does not the operation will resume on Friday.

The fire was first reported at 04:57 BST on Wednesday morning.

Heat prevented fire crews getting to the scene for much of the day and they were taken to the scene by helicopter on Wednesday evening.

Conditions were more favourable on Thursday and four fire appliances and a command support unit attended the scene.

One appliance will stay at the scene on Thursday night.

Image copyright Kevin McCloskey Image caption Both the Forest Service and Coastguard are also involved in the operation

Commander Smyth said they were helped by the weather.

"The good news is that there isn't much wind, and the wind is blowing against the fire and helping contain it.

"The fire has encroached on part of the forest but the hope is that it will burn out when it hits the more mature trees which tend to burn more slowly," he said.

On Wednesday Commander Smyth said the fire was caused by some sort of human error.

"Be very careful not to be putting heat into dry ground and lighting barbecues.

"This was one of our most difficult incidents because of access. It was very dangerous terrain."

The fire is spread across an area of 800-1000 hectares with three seats of fire. </s> A wildfire that drove thousands from their homes near California's Yosemite National Park grew more ferocious Wednesday, roaring through rugged terrain after doubling in size overnight and threatening 1,500 homes.

The fire has burned at least 70 square miles since Sunday, destroying eight buildings, damaging power, water, and communication infrastructure and forcing authorities to close highways near the park.

More than 2,000 people fled the blaze in the town of Mariposa, and Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County.

"Any time you have a fire like this and you have a community like this, it's going to be considered threatened," state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spokesman Isaac Sanchez said. "When you add the fact that there are foothills, when you add in the slopes and the grades and the temperatures we are dealing with, the humidities we are dealing with, it's a full-on challenge."

Yosemite remained open, but some access roads were closed and the fire caused smoky conditions throughout much of the 1,169 square-mile park, officials said. The fire was 7% contained early Wednesday.

"Firefighters experienced extreme and aggressive fire behavior," Cal Fire said in its incident information, adding that the blaze it has dubbed the Detwiler Fire "encroaches on culturally and historically sensitive areas."

Mariposa Lodge Owner Mia Gloor told the local ABC-TV affiliate she was watching the flames and hoping the fire would not envelop her family business.

"Everybody is scared, you'd never think something like this would happen in your town," she said.

Years of drought were blamed for a series of massive fires in recent years that raced through California's kindling-dry forests. More recently, months of snow and rain have presented a new problem — thick vegetation to feed flames. Steep terrain, high winds and blazing heat have added to the issues facing more than 1,400 firefighters battling the blaze.

"I can't emphasize enough how active and erratic this fire activity is," Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies said. "It's done stuff that we haven't seen before." </s> A wildfire warning has been put in place for the weekend as firefighters continue to tackle a blaze in woods near Bathgate.

More than 50 firefighters are working at the scene by Falla Hill Place in Fauldhouse, West Lothian, to extinguish pockets of the fire, which took hold in trees and dry vegetation.

Crews were first called at around 5pm on Wednesday, with the fire covering a 200m area.

READ MORE: Soaring temperatures cause 200m wildfire near Bathgate

It comes amid a heatwave across Scotland, with a wildfire warning in place until Monday.

Bruce Farquharson, chair of the Scottish Wildfire Forum, said: “Grass and wildfires are a common risk at this time of year when warmer weather dries out vegetation - especially dead winter foliage - which offers an ample fuel source.

“Just one heat source can cause it to ignite and if the wind changes direction, even the smallest fire can spread uncontrollably and devastate entire hillsides.

“A great many people will be enjoying the outdoors in the good weather this weekend, we urge everyone to make sure that they don’t increase the chance of wildfire - be aware of the risks and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”

READ MORE: Spectacular drone footage captures wildfire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh

A similar warning came last month as wildfires broke out in the Highlands and on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, while the fire service in England is currently dealing with a massive blaze on Saddleworth Moor.

No injuries have been reported at the Fauldhouse fire.

Group manager Mark Bryce said: “The fire has not spread any further but it has taken hold within trees and heavy vegetation and the terrain out here is proving difficult and challenging.

“We are using aggressive firefighting tactics to extinguish it as soon as possible.

“It is very hot out here but our crews are working very effectively and I thoroughly commend them for that effort.

“I would like to say thank-you to not only our partners but to the wider local community for their truly outstanding support.” </s> Around 55 firefighters are continuing to work to put out a wildfire that has taken hold in West Lothian.

Scotish Fire and Rescue crews were scrambled along with six fire engines to Falla Hill Place in Fauldhouse when the alarm was first raised at 5.08pm on Wednesday, June 27.

Those crews worked through the night to tackle the flames which had taken hold of a 200 metre-wide area of woodland.

A further three fire engines were mobilised to the scene on Thursday.

There are no casualties and pupils and staff from Fallahill Primary have been keeping firefighters going with food and drink.

It comes as a wildfire warning remains in place until Monday, July 2.

During last month’s warning, firefighters worked to extinguish a series of wildfires that swept across the Highlands and Islands as well as Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

Read more: Daughter hopes to raise awareness of rare condition after father dies aged 52

Group manager Mark Bryce is the officer in charge of the Bathgate incident.

He said: “The fire has not spread any further but it has taken hold within trees and heavy vegetation and the terrain out here is proving difficult and challenging.

“We are using aggressive firefighting tactics to extinguish it as soon as possible.

“It is very hot out here but our crews are working very effectively and I thoroughly commend them for that effort.

“I would like to say thank you to not only our partners but to the wider local community for their truly outstanding support.”

The wider wildfire warning currently in place across Scotland was flagged on Wednesday, June 27.

Read more: Shocking review of NHS Lothian reveals culture of bullying and harassment

SFRS area manager Bruce Farquharson is the chair of the Scottish Wildfire Forum.

He said: “Grass and wildfires are a common risk at this time of year when warmer weather dries out vegetation – especially dead winter foliage – which offers an ample fuel source.

“Just one heat source can cause it to ignite and if the wind changes direction even the smallest fire can spread uncontrollably and devastate entire hillsides.”

He added: “A great many people will be enjoying the outdoors in the good weather this weekend, we urge everyone to make sure that they don’t increase the chance of wildfire – be aware of the risks and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

For further advice and information about wildfires and how to prevent them visit: www.firescotland.gov.uk or www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/ </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Heatwave: Call to conserve water

A hosepipe ban took effect in Northern Ireland at 18:00 BST on Friday.

NI Water has appealed for people not to use water for washing cars, filling pools, or sprinkling gardens, as supply failures have already hit some areas.

Temperatures peaked at 30C on Friday, but are expected to be lower today.

One fire appliance will remain to monitor a gorse fire on the Glenshane Pass . It had been burning for three days but is now winding down.

Separately firefighters dealt with a large gorse fire in the Bloody Bridge area of the Mournes but that was brought under control.

When is it too hot to work?

NI Water says it is pumping out water to its distribution network as fast as possible, but demand is at an all-time high, with people using approximately 200 litres per day each, compared to the normal 153 litres.

With some areas, including parts of Belfast and Armagh, already experiencing loss of pressure and supply failures, NI Water has asked people to:

Take shorter showers

Turn off the tap when brushing teeth

Keep a jug of water in the fridge

Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need

The last hosepipe ban in Northern Ireland was 23 years ago in 1995.

Image copyright Eileen Christie Image caption The advice from NI Water is essentially head to the beach this weekend if possible

The company's chief executive, Sara Venning, asked for people to be responsible and help conserve water.

"Don't use your hose, don't sprinkle the garden, don't wash your car and take the weekend off and go to the beach," she said.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Gorse fire on Glenshane Pass

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, Ms Venning said NI Water had "maximised water production" but also needed help from customers.

"It is essential that we all work together to reduce the unprecedented levels of demand on our network."

In the Republic of Ireland, Irish Water has announced a ban on the use of hosepipes in the greater Dublin area from 2 July.

Irish Water said the ban will be in place until 31 July, but the situation will be kept under review.

Sunshine set for the weekend

By BBC Northern Ireland weather presenter Geoff Maskell

It has been an incredible few days of weather. Not quite record breaking - but very, very close.

The warmest June temperature ever recorded in Northern Ireland was 30.8C at Knockarevan, back in 1976.

On Thursday we came within a whisker of that, recording highs of 30.5C at both Derrylin and Thomastown.

The lengthy spell of fine weather is all due to an area of high pressure which has been anchored over the British Isles for the last week.

High pressure in summer means, fine sunny days, light winds and initially clear cool nights. At the start of this week the nights were still quite pleasant.

But as the ground warms up day by day, as it has done this week, even those night-time temperatures start to rise.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption NI Water wants customers to turn sprinklers off

The fine weather is set to stay with us through the weekend, all of next week and on into the early part of July.

There's only a 20% chance of rain in the Belfast area before 11 July.

But the temperature will drop a little, from a "scorchio" 30 degrees this week to just a very pleasant 23 or 24 degrees next week.

Inland Fisheries in the Republic of Ireland asked anglers and the public to report any sightings of fish possibly distressed by high water temperatures and low water levels.

They have also asked anglers to practice catch-and-release fishing during the heatwave - meaning all fish caught are returned to the water.

The police have reiterated their warning to not leave dogs in cars. </s> If you're viewing this on the ABC10 App, tap here for live video & multimedia.

Police in a Northern California city say they have been unable to locate 14 people, including a 70-year-old woman and her young great-grandchildren, amid a raging wildfire.

Redding Police Sgt. Todd Cogle said he expects most of the 14 to be safe since their homes survived the Shasta County wildfire. He says some may be having communication issues.

Cogle said he could not comment on Melody Bledsoe and 5-year-old James Roberts and 4-year-old Emily Roberts, who remain missing. He said the Shasta County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Police have surrounded the Bledsoe property with crime scene tape.

An investigator Saturday wouldn't say if any remains had been found. The wildfire that started Monday has displaced at least 37,000 people.

The Carr Fire is now 80,906 acres and 5 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

Officials say a deadly blaze in Northern California almost doubled in size overnight, but is moving away from populated areas.

Chris Anthony, deputy chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Saturday the so-called Carr Fire burning in Shasta County has scorched 125 square miles (320 square kilometers).

Anthony says winds are fueling the fire but also pushing it away from Redding, a city of 90,000, and other populated areas. Thousands of people remain under evacuation orders, including the small towns of Ono and Igo.

The explosive wildfire in Northern California has killed two firefighters and destroyed 500 buildings. Another 5,000 buildings remain under threat.

REDDING, Calif. (AP) — In the small northern California community of Keswick, only a handful of homes remain.

The air is thick with the smell of smoke and chemicals. The rubble of people's lives still smoldered a day after the so-called Carr Fire moved through Shasta County like a freight train.

The flames so thoroughly ate up homes that it's difficult to tell how many once stood above the pile of ash and smoking rubble that remains.

Somewhere in there was the home of Shyla and Jason Campbell.

Jason Campbell, a firefighter, was six hours away battling a wildfire burning near Yosemite Valley when the Carr Fire moved in on his home and family.

Shyla Campbell, 32, said it was nearly 2 a.m. Thursday when she got an official alert to evacuate.

"It's huge flames, it's coming up the hill, and everyone's out and we're watching it, then it goes down, and everyone's like, 'Oh it's going out,' " she said. "And I'm like, 'No, it's going down the mountain and it's going to come back up the next ridge.' "

She was right.

The family spent the night at a hotel. When Jason Campbell returned from the blaze he was fighting on Friday, he found his own home had gone up in flames, along with an RV and a boat.

The Campbells' home of five years is among at least 500 structures that officials say were destroyed by the fire, which also swept through the historic Gold Rush town of Shasta and hit homes in Redding, a city of 92,000 about 100 miles south of the Oregon border.

"It's tough," Shyla Campbell said Friday from the city of Shasta Lake. "I just have to figure out where we're going to stay. We're just trying to stay away from the fire."

So are about 37,000 people who remain under evacuation orders Friday. Nearly 5,000 homes in the area were being threatened by the 75-square-mile (194-square-kilometer) blaze, which is just 5 percent contained.

Thousands of people scrambled to escape before the walls of flames descended from forested hills onto their neighborhoods Thursday.

Residents who gathered their belongings in haste described a chaotic and congested getaway as the embers blew up to a mile ahead of flames and the fire leaped across the wide Sacramento River and torched subdivisions in Redding.

Redding police chief Roger Moore was among those who lost their homes, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Greg and Terri Hill evacuated their Redding home of 18 years Thursday night with little more than their medications, photo albums, clothes and firearms, assuming they'd be back in a few days.

But when they returned Friday, virtually nothing was left of their home but fine particles of ash.

The remains were smoldering so hot, they couldn't get too close to see if anything survived.

"It's pretty emotional," Terri Hill said. "I know it's just stuff. A lot of memories. But we'll make new memories and get new stuff. Everybody's safe."

The Hills fled before they were told to, knowing danger was afoot when the power went out and helicopters suddenly began flying low over their home.

Liz Williams loaded up two kids in her car and then found herself locked in bumper-to-bumper traffic with neighbors trying to retreat from Lake Redding Estates.

She eventually jumped the curb onto the sidewalk and "booked it."

"I've never experienced something so terrifying in my life," she said. "I didn't know if the fire was just going to jump out behind a bush and grab me and suck me in."

The flames moved so fast that firefighters working in oven-like temperatures and bone-dry conditions had to drop efforts to battle the blaze at one point to help people escape.

The fire, which created at least two flaming tornados that toppled trees, shook firefighting equipment and busted truck windows, took "down everything in its path," said Scott McLean, a spokesman for Cal Fire, the state agency responsible for fighting wildfires.

Two firefighters were killed in the blaze, Redding fire inspector Jeremy Stoke and a bulldozer operator whose name wasn't immediately released. He was the second bulldozer operator killed in a California blaze in less than two weeks.

Fire officials warned that the blaze would probably burn deeper into urban areas before there was any hope of containing it, though it either changed direction or was stopped before it could burn into the core of the city.

Firefighters say 500 structures have been destroyed in a raging Northern California wildfire and another 5,000 are threatened.

Cal Fire released the updated figure Friday, though the number of homes burned in the so-called Carr Fire is expected to increase.

Earlier Friday, fire officials said 65 structures had been destroyed by the fast-moving blaze in Shasta County.

The blaze grew to 75 square miles (194 square kilometers) by Friday night. It began Monday with a mechanical failure of a vehicle. It grew completely out of control on Thursday, tearing through two small communities and reaching the city of Redding.

Tens of thousands of people fled the city in fear of their lives from the blaze, which has killed two firefighters.

The police chief of the Northern California city hit hard by a fast-moving wildfire is among those whose homes went up in flames.

Redding Police Chief Roger Moore told the Los Angeles Times that he and two other police officers lost their homes in Shasta County's Carr Fire.

Moore estimates at least 100 homes were destroyed overnight Thursday as the flames jumped the Sacramento River and raced into the outskirts of Redding. More than 37,000 residents have been evacuated.

The city of 92,000 is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of the Oregon border.

Moore said the family saved valuables such as photos and documents, but his wife and children are anxious and sad.

Gov. Brown sent a letter to President Trump Friday, requesting a Presidential Emergency Declaration for direct federal assistance with regards to the Carr Fire in Shasta County.

“Supplemental federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen the effects of this imminent catastrophe,” Gov. Brown said in the letter.

According to the Associated Press' count, at least 125 homes have been destroyed in the Carr Fire.

A fire official says winds fanning a deadly blaze in Northern California were so strong that trees were ripped from the ground, flew in the air and landed across the street.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Chad Carroll said Friday many of those trees landed on homes.

He says that winds were so extreme Thursday that embers traveled up to a mile ahead of the flames.

Carroll says the wildfire that started Monday and has killed two firefighters is mainly burning near the city of Redding, which has about 90,000 residents.

But he says extreme winds are expected again Friday afternoon and says people in the area should be ready to evacuate.

Mandatory evacuations were extended overnight to include the city of Shasta Lake, which has about 10,000 residents.

Residents in Redding where several homes were destroyed say they had to scramble to escape the blaze.

Jim Chapin says he got home at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and police were there telling people to evacuate the Lake Redding Estates neighborhood.

Chapin says his wife left, but he stayed behind to hose down the roof, gutters and fallen leaves.

He says that shortly afterward, the fire was burning trees behind neighbors' homes and ferocious winds whipped up branches, burning leaves, garbage-can lids, wood and other debris.

Chapin says the streets were so jammed with traffic that there was no way for firefighters to come in.

The 79-year-old returned to the neighborhood Friday and cried when he found his home still standing.

The Redding Fire Department says Fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke died battling the Carr Fire.

An official says more than 5,000 people have been evacuated and that authorities expect the Carr Fire to continue moving into urban areas.

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services spokesman Kelly Huston says they are coordinating bringing in aircrafts from the California National Guard to help fight the flames.

Officials say the extremely erratic wildfire in and around the city of Redding is growing rapidly amid scorching temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. Temperatures are forecast to reach 110 (43 Celsius) Friday.

Huston says officials are moving emergency supplies including cots and food to four shelters set up in Shasta County.

He says the shelters are preparing for what could be a "longer-term" event.

Gov. Jerry Brown urges residents to follow all evacuations concerning the Carr Fire. CAL FIRE officials said under 5,000 structures are at risk.

"This is the new normal for us in California," said CAL FIRE division chief Chris Anthony.

REDDING, Calif. (AP) — An explosive wildfire that roared with little warning into a Northern California city claimed a second life and thousands more people abandoned their homes, some of them slipping out just ahead of the walls of flame, authorities said Friday.

In all, an estimated 37,000 people have fled from the so-called Carr Fire, which began Monday and tripled in size overnight Thursday amid scorching temperatures, low humidity and high winds. Fire officials warned that the blaze would probably burn deeper into urban areas before there was any hope of containing it.

A day earlier, the flames turned the sky orange while sweeping through the historic Gold Rush town of Shasta and nearby Keswick, then jumping the Sacramento River into Redding, a city of about 92,000 people and the largest in the region.

Steve Hobson was one of the last to leave Lake Redding Drive. A former urban and wild land firefighter three decades ago, he planned to stay behind to save his house. But the heat burned his skin, and the smoke made it hard to breathe. He could feel the fire sucking the air from the around him, whipping up swirling embers in a "fire tornado," he said.

Residents in the western part of Redding who had not been under evacuation orders were caught off guard and had to flee with little notice.

"When it hit, people were really scrambling," McLean said. "There was not much of a warning."

Many fire crews turned their focus from the flames to getting people out alive.

"Really, we're in a life-saving mode right now in Redding," said Jonathan Cox, battalion chief with Cal Fire. "We're not fighting a fire. We're trying to move people out of the path of it because it is now deadly, and it is now moving at speeds and in ways we have not seen before in this area."

Some residents drove to hotels or the homes of family members in safer parts of California, while other evacuees poured into a shelter just outside of town.

A reporter with Redding television station KRCR choked up as she reported live updates about the fire before the station had to go off the air later. Two news anchors told viewers that the building was being evacuated and urged residents to "be safe."

Journalists at the Record Searchlight newspaper tweeted about continuing to report on the fire without electricity in their newsroom, and a reporter at nearby KHSL television wrote on Twitter that the station's Redding reporters were "running home to gather their things."

Mike Mangas, a spokesman at Mercy Medical Center, said the hospital was evacuating five babies in its neonatal intensive care unit, which cares for premature newborns, and taking them to medical facilities outside of the area.

He said the hospital was preparing high-risk patients to be evacuated but there were no immediate plans to do so.

Late Thursday, crews found the body of the bulldozer operator who had been hired privately to clear vegetation in the blaze's path, McLean said. The fire burned over the operator and his equipment, making him the second bulldozer operator killed in a California blaze in less than two weeks.

Three firefighters and an unknown number of civilians had burns, but the extent of their injuries was not immediately known, McLean said.

"It's just chaotic. It's wild," he said. "There's a lot of fire, a lot of structures burning."

Firefighters tried in vain to build containment around the blaze Thursday, but flames kept jumping their lines, he said.

"It's just a heck of a fight," he said. "They're doing what they can do, and they get pushed out in a lot of cases. We're fighting the fight right now."

He said the fire behavior was so erratic, there were tornadoes within the fire "tossing around equipment, blowing windows out of Cal Fire pickup trucks."

The 45-square-mile (115-square-kilometer) fire that began Monday tripled in size overnight Thursday amid scorching temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions. It was sparked by a mechanical issue involving a vehicle, Cal Fire said.

Brett Gouvea, incident commander of the crews battling the fire, urged residents to pay close attention to the blaze.

"This fire is extremely dangerous and moving with no regard for what's in its path," he said.

Earlier in the day, with flames exploding around Whiskeytown Lake, people tried to save boats at a marina by untying them from moorings and pushing them to safety. But it wasn't swift enough to spare them all. Dozens of charred, twisted and melted boats were among the losses at Oak Bottom Marina.

"The boat docks down there — all the way out in the water — 30 to 40 boats caught fire when the fire laid down on top of them last night and burned those up," said fire Chief Mike Hebrard of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Wildfires throughout the state have burned through tinder-dry brush and forest, forced thousands to evacuate homes and caused campers to pack up their tents at the height of summer. Gov. Jerry Brown declared states of emergency for the three largest fires, which will authorize the state to rally resources to local governments.

A huge forest fire continued to grow outside Yosemite National Park. That blaze killed 36-year-old Braden Varney, a heavy equipment operator for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection whose bulldozer rolled over into a ravine July 14.

Hundreds of miles to the south, the Cranston Fire grew to 7.5 square miles (19 square kilometers) and about 3,000 residents remained under evacuation orders in Idyllwild and several neighboring communities. That fire, which destroyed five homes, is believed to have been sparked by arson.

Click here for a list of evacuation orders and additional information. </s> July 20 (Reuters) - A raging wildfire in central California that has forced thousands from their homes spread rapidly on Thursday, threatening a town outside Yosemite National Park, fire officials said.

The so-called Detwiler Fire, which is menacing Mariposa and other communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is only 10 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said on its website.

More than 3,000 firefighters battled that fire that has advanced over 70,096 acres (28,366 hectares), Cal Fire said, an increase of more than 22,000 acres since early Thursday morning.

The Detwiler Fire was threatening some 1,500 structures and power lines supplying electricity to Yosemite National Park, according to Cal Fire. The park remained open to visitors on Thursday.

Mariposa is 50 miles from Yosemite National Park, Cal Fire spokeswoman Shanelle Saunders said, adding that the biggest concern with the park right now was air quality due to heavy smoke. Mariposa's 2,000 residents were told to leave town on Tuesday after its power and water links were damaged. Nearly 5,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes, officials said. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County on Tuesday. The town's hospital and its 14 patients were not evacuated, the facility's interim Chief Executive Matthew Matthiessen said. Low humidity overnight allowed the fire to quickly consume drought-stricken dense areas of shrubs and small trees, Cal Fire said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The small communities of Coulterville and Greeley Hill were evacuated on Wednesday. The Detwiler Fire was among 37 large fires across 12 western states as of Wednesday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center's website.

The last big wildfire to affect Yosemite National Park was the Rim Fire in August 2013, which became the third-largest wildfire in California's history at the time.

The 257,314 acre (104,131 hectares) Rim Fire scorched parts of the park and surrounding areas for nearly three months before being contained. (Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Toni Reinhold and Cynthia Osterman) </s> Washington, June 3 (IANS) Massive wildfires in the US states of California, Colorado and New Mexico have torched thousands of acres and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes, the media reported.

A vegetation fire in Laguna Beach, California, about 50 miles south of Los Angeles, has torched about 250 acres. More than 400 firefighters were fighting the blaze, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

There was zero percent containment as of Saturday night, reports CNN.

No injuries or damaged structures have been reported in the blaze, dubbed the Aliso Fire, but evacuations are underway in Laguna Beach neighbourhoods, where about 2,000 residents had been evacuated by Saturday.

A blaze known as the 416 Fire in Colorado’s La Plata county has burned 1,100 acres, US Forest Service spokesman Jim Mackensen told CNN on Saturday.

The fire, about 15 miles outside the town of Durango, was also zero per cent contained and has forced the evacuations of 1,500 residents, Mackensen said. No structures have been destroyed.

Grass, brush and timber continued to fuel the fire Saturday morning.

A massive fire in Colfax county, New Mexico, grew to 30,000 acres by Saturday night, according to the US Forest Service.

More than 500 personnel were battling the fire.

A mandatory evacuation order was in place for the town of Cimarron, where 296 structures were threatened by the blaze, called the Ute Park Fire.
A large wildfire has broken out in Glenshane Pass in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, rapidly growing to cover around one square mile of dry gorse. High temperatures hamper efforts to tackle the wildfire, and firefighters have to be airlifted close to the front line.