NU Online News Service, Aug. 31, 3:31 p.m. EDT
California wildfires have turned deadly, taking the lives of two firefighters Sunday and threatening thousands of structures throughout Southern California.
According to information on the state's Web site, at least 10 fires are burning throughout the state. The largest is outside of Los Angeles, where Los Angeles Radio KNX is reporting 12,000 homes have been evacuated as firefighters work to contain a 20-mile swath of flames.
The fire in the Angeles National Forest was only 5 percent contained by this morning, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
The state said there have been 5,401 fires to date in 2009, burning 121,140 acres. This compares to 4,231 fires and 353,203 acres at the same time last year.
On Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an emergency order mobilizing the state's fire resources.
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