Half a million people evacuated as US wildfires rage

Half a million people have been evacuated from their homes in Oregon as unprecedented wildfires rage along the US west coast.



"Firefighters are prioritising life safety as they battle a record 900,000 acres of wildfires across Oregon," a statement said.

At least 24 people have been killed as wildfires burn in California, Oregon and Washington, with officials warning that the death toll could rise in coming days.

The August Complex Fire became the biggest recorded blaze in Californian history yesterday, after multiple fires in the state's northwest combined amid high temperatures and winds to rip through 470,000 acres of dry vegetation.

In neighbouring Oregon, where at least five towns have been substantially damaged and up to 40,000 people evacuated, governor Kate Brown said twice the state's annual average had burned in just the past 72 hours...
 RTE