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Body Found As Wildfires Engulf California

A burned body has been found as thousands of people fled their homes because of two huge wildfires engulfing mountains north of Los Angeles.

The body of a man was discovered outside a house in Santa Clarita, California, on Saturday evening - a day after a blaze broke out 40 miles from the city.

The so-called Sand Fire has scorched 31 square miles and prompted the evacuation of 1,500 homes.

By Saturday night, the fire was 10% contained as it burned on the edge of Santa Clarita and into the Angeles National Forest.

It has cast a pall of thick black smoke over much of Los Angeles.

Around 300 miles up the coast another blaze, which posed a threat to around 1,000 homes near Garrapata State Park, caused the evacuation of Palo Colorado.

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California has been hit by a series of wildfires throughout the summer as dried bush land and high temperatures have helped fuel blazes.

"Because this is the fifth year of an ongoing drought we have a lot dry vegetation," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby.

"Some of these fuels, they haven't burned in decades.

"This fire has increased to about 11,000 acres just overnight."

In Santa Clarita, more than 900 firefighters battled flames in temperatures exceeding 41C.

Water-dropping helicopters were also drafted in to tackle the Sand Fire.

Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the US Fire Service, said: "It's not a one-direction type of fire.

"It's going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing.

"It's doing what it wants."

Despite firefighters' efforts, the blaze destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations.

Ranch owner Derek Hunt told KABC-TV: "It was a horrific firestorm.

"At some point you know you're defeated and you have to step back and save what you can.

"We fought as best as we could."

A Bengal tiger and other animals were evacuated from Wildlife Waystation, at sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within Angeles National Forest.

More than 220 horses, dozens of goats and other animals have also been taken from the fire area, animal control officials said.