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In pictures: Silverado wildfire rages in California

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image copyrightReuters

A wildfire has forced evacuation orders for 100,000 people in southern California.

The Silverado Fire broke out just before sunrise on Monday in Orange County, south of Los Angeles.

By late afternoon, the blaze had burned about 7,200 acres (2,915 hectares), the state fire agency reported. About 5,000 firefighters are battling wildfires across the state.

The worst wildfires in 18 years started raging in California in August.

They have been responsible for more than 30 deaths and driven thousands of people from their homes.

The winds are pushing flames in the Silverado fire closer to houses in the city of Irvine, home to around 280,000 people.

Two firefighters have been seriously burnt while tackling the blaze.

image copyrightReuters
image captionFire conditions are the most dangerous this year, the National Weather Service says
image copyrightReuters
image captionThe fire has spread quickly, helped by dry conditions
image copyrightReuters
image captionUtilities have shut off power to thousands of houses to avert the risk of sparks starting more fires
image copyrightReuters
image captionCalifornia has been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, putting extra strain on firefighters
image copyrightReuters
image captionRed flag warnings for dangerously dry weather conditions remain in effect across California

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