California fire kills 1 as heat stokes blazes in Western U.S.

HORNBROOK, Calif. -- A wildfire raging through drought-stricken timber and brush near California's border with Oregon killed one person and destroyed multiple structures as it burned largely out of control, authorities said Friday.

No other details were released about the death blamed on the fire threatening 300 homes near Hornbook, a town of 250 people about 14 miles south of the Oregon border. It's not clear the flames burned homes or other structures such as barns.

It was one of dozens of fires across the dry American West, fueled by rising temperatures and gusty winds expected to last through the weekend. Heat spreading from Southern California into parts of Arizona, Nevada and Utah threatened to worsen flames forcing thousands of people to evacuate and destroying hundreds of homes across the West.

On the California-Oregon border, the fire ignited Thursday and moved swiftly through the region home to many retirees, said Ray Haupt, chairman of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors.

"It moved so fast I'm not sure how much time lagged between the evacuation and when it hit Hornbrook," he said. "It hit there pretty quick. We know we've lost homes and lots of structures, including livestock and horses as well."

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, citing "extreme peril" to people and property.

Farther north in Oregon, authorities urged hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts to avoid forests near the state line. Although the flames have not crossed into Oregon, officials are concerned people in remote areas can't be reached in case they need to quickly evacuate.

The areas of concern include the Pacific Crest Trail, Mount Ashland and the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Fire danger could prohibit rescuers from looking for anyone, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office said.

Elsewhere in California, a massive blaze northwest of Sacramento had destroyed nine homes, officials said. Firefighters had begun inspecting the fire zone, which covers an area nearly three times the size of San Francisco.

The fire, spanning 140 square miles, was partially contained, but crews struggled in steep, rugged terrain. With the weather getting hotter and drier, and officials said the fire could grow.

In San Diego County, a fast-moving wildfire burned a handful of homes.

Video from news helicopters showed fire crews running along Interstate 8 in Alpine and trying to quell the flames spreading along the side of the freeway as a handful of homes were completely engulfed in flames.

In contrast, rain helped slow the growth of wildfires in Colorado. But the threat of a deluge raised the possibility of flooding at a stubborn blaze in the southwestern corner of the state.

Officials issued a flash flood watch for the 85-square-mile area burned by a fire burning since June 1. They said it is just smoldering, and rain over the coming days should keep it from spreading.

Rain helped a fire in the heart of ski country destroying three houses, including the home of a volunteer firefighter battling the flames near the resort town of Aspen. Gov. John Hickenlooper visited the area Friday.

It also offered relief in the southern Colorado mountains where a blaze has destroyed more than 130 homes and forced the evacuation of at least 2,000 properties. The Spring Creek Fire became the third-largest in state history at 165 square miles.

In a Utah mountain area, a wildfire destroyed 90 structures and forced more than 1,100 people to flee and was growing, but fire officials hoped to gain more control after their work Friday. Many homes and cabins likely burned, while others may be sheds or garages.

The fire spans about 75 square miles near a popular fishing reservoir about 80 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, according to the Utah Division Forestry Fire State Lands.

It has forced a 35-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 40 to close since Wednesday, said Sonya Capek, a fire spokeswoman. Officials believe human activity sparked the blaze, but an exact cause hasn't been determined.