Raging wildfires in western US prompt evacuations

LOWER LAKE, California — Thousands of firefighters battled more than 20 major wildfires in California on Monday and officials called for evacuations as numerous homes were threatened by the flames.

Wildfires were also burning in the states of Washington and Oregon as the West Coast suffered from the effects of drought and summer heat.

The largest California wildfire was raging in the Lower Lake area north of San Francisco. It nearly tripled in size over the weekend to 84 square miles (220 square kilometers).

The fire has destroyed 24 homes and 26 outbuildings and was threatening 6,300 homes, many of them ranches scattered in rural areas ranging from grasslands to steep hills, officials said.

Officials have ordered 12,000 people to evacuate homes, the Sacramento Bee, a California newspaper, reported. Several roads have been closed.