Governor Jerry declares state of emergency

The governor of California has declared a state of emergency after wildfires forced thousands of people to flee their homes in the north of the state. Governor Jerry Brown said the fires had destroyed buildings in the Napa and Lake counties and threatened hundreds of others.

More than 1,300 people fled Middletown, north of San Francisco, as their homes were consumed by the flames. Four firefighters who were badly burned are receiving treatment in hospital.

The fires across northern California are being blamed on high temperatures and years of drought. The state spent $212m fighting the flames in July alone, California's forestry and fire protection department spokesman Daniel Berlant told the AFP news agency.

He said more than 275 homes and other buildings had been destroyed and the Red Cross is opening emergency shelters for evacuated residents.