16,000 people evacuated in 80, 000 hectare California wildfire near Mendocino

A fast-growing forest fire in Mendocino north of San Francisco has become California's largest wildfire. Between Friday and Saturday, strong winds contributed to increasing the burning area by a quarter, and the fire now covers 81,500 hectares, according to the authorities.

Only 34 percent of the fire is contained and about 16,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. The fire has destroyed over 100 buildings.

In another fire in California, which goes on to the northeast, six people have been killed and about 1,500 buildings have been destroyed. There, only 41 percent of the fire is contained.

The authorities also issued warnings for continued strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures - which may cause the fires to spread further.