Wildfires

At least 11 people have been killed by a wildfire that ripped through residential areas of port city Valparaiso in Chile.

Around 1,200 firefighters have battled the blaze which has burnt through 1,729 acres of forest and homes, using three planes and four helicopters to drop water on the flames.

A huge forest fire raging near the Chilean port of Valparaiso has killed at least two people and destroyed 500 homes, officials have said.

Thousands of people have been evacuated, including more than 200 female inmates at a prison.

Firefighters were having difficulty combating the blaze because of the topography of the city, which is surrounded by dozens of steep hills where most people live.

A wildfire in the hills near Los Angeles was more than 75 percent contained on Sunday, after blackening some 1,900 acres (769 hectares) of drought-parched shrubland and destroying five homes, officials said.

The so-called Colby Fire, which officials said started from a campfire, was expected to be fully contained by Tuesday, said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the Angeles National Forest & Fire Department.

The blaze, centered in the San Gabriel Mountains on territory that is part of the Angeles National Forest, was 78 percent contained, Judy said.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of recklessly starting the fast-moving wildfire in California.

Clifford Eugene Henry Jr. 22, Jonathan Carl Jarrell, 23, and Steven Robert Aguirre, 21, were camping in the area.

"Reportedly they set a campfire and were tossing papers into the campfire and a breeze kicked up and set the fire," Glendora Police Chief Tim Staab said. "They are being cooperative. I'm told one has made an admission to our detectives and has admitted setting this fire."

Pictures: California wildfires destroys homes and land

A fast-moving California wildfire forced more than 1,000 people to flee their homes, fire and law enforcement officials said.

The fire roared out of control, destroying at least two homes.

The blaze erupted on Thursday morning in the Angeles National Forest north of Glendora, about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

More than 1,700 acres of vegetation had been blackened by mid-morning in the so-called Colby Fire, Los Angeles County fire officials said.

Pictures: Some 1,000 homes evacuated in California wildfires

About 1,000 homes have been evacuated as a wildfire sweeps through a national forest some 30 miles from central Los Angeles, NBC News reports.

The blaze has grown rapidly, fanned by strong gusts of wind, to cover 1,700 acres.

Police in the city of Glendora police say they believe an out-of-control camp fire may be to blame and have arrested two people in connection.

The US Forest Service detained one person near the origin of the fire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Very high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds have combined to create a fierce wildfire in the US state of Arizona.

Officials have ordered the evacuations of more than 50 homes in several communities as firefighters try to control the blaze.

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Firefighters have been working to bring a wildfire under control close to the US town of Yarnell, about 90 miles north-west of Pheonix, Arizona.

The local press is reporting that state authorities plan to call in federal help to battle the 2,000-acre blaze.

About 200 firefighters are working to control the blaze, which has destroyed several homes in the community.

Read: Wildfires in Arizona claim lives of 19 firefighters

A massive blaze that spread across miles of grassland in Banavie in the Scottish Highlands has been brought under control by firefighters.

The uncontrolled blaze was one of the worst of almost 100 wildfires reported to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service yesterday, stretching around three miles across the area north of Fort William.

Lib Dem MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Charles Kennedy said: "I have never witnessed anything quite on the scale of yesterday's massive hill fire above Banavie and Corpach. If the initial reports are confirmed, then it is miraculous that there was no significant loss of property, far less worse.

"The spate of such fires recently across the Highlands acts as a timely warning to us all. But most of all it makes us all profoundly grateful for the professional expertise and courage of our firefighters and the other emergency services. We are indebted to them all."

A blaze stretching three miles has engulfed the Scottish Highlands, according to the fire service.

Approximately 45 firefighters and officers along with eight appliances have been called to tackle a wild fire north of Fort William in the Highlands.

The fire is on grassland and heath north of the B8004 road and while wind is blowing smoke in the direction of residential properties no buildings are on fire or have been evacuated.

The fire service are working in partnership with the police should any evacuations need to take place.