A firefighter has been killed battling the largest wildfire in Californian history that has been stoked by prime fire weather conditions as it has destroyed dozens of homes.
The unidentified firefighter was killed yesterday while battling the Ranch Fire, one of two blazes that make up the Mendocino Complex, which has already burned about 349,000 acres, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.
The Utah firefighter was airlifted to a hospital where he died, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Fact finding on the accident is ongoing and notification of the next- of-kin is in progress," Cal Fire said.
The firefighter was the sixth person killed battling California's intense wildfires this year, which have been some of the most destructive in more than a decade as they have forced tens of thousands to evacuate.
The Mendocino Complex, which has destroyed 146 homes since it began on 27 July, has been stoked by persistent hot, dry and windy conditions.
Crews have been able to cut containment lines around 68% of the northern California fire, Cal Fire said.
The complex is one of about 110 major wildfires burning across the western United States that have burned more than 23,000 sq km, an area larger than the state ofNew Jersey, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Though temperatures had dropped from their highs in recent days, they were expected to stay above 32C through to Friday.
The cooler temperatures gave firefighters a chance yesterday to attack the string of major wildfires across California, fire officials said.
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Another massive blaze, the Carr Fire, has blackened about 207,000 acres and killed eight people in and around Shasta County, north of Sacramento near the Oregon state line.
It was 63% contained as of yesterday afternoon, Cal Fire said.
In Southern California the Holy Fire, which authorities say was set on 6 August by a disgruntled homeowner in an Orange County canyon, was 59% contained after torching more than 22,000 acres and destroying a dozen cabins.
