Pilot dies fighting California wildfires

In an attempt to contain the wildfires in Central California, a pilot died after his helicopter crashed. The deceased pilot was engaged in a water-dropping mission on the Hills Fire when the mishap occurred.

Vacaville:A pilot, who was battling a fire in central California, died after his helicopter crashed. Calfornia Fire said in a statement that the helicopter crashed on Wednesday while fighting a wildfire in western Fresno County.

The Bell UH-1H helicopter was on a water-dropping mission on the Hills Fire, about 9 miles (14 kilometres) south of Coalinga. The pilot was the only one on board.

The Fresno Sheriff's office was called shortly after 11 am to assist in a search and rescue mission. Crews were battling wildfires in the San Francisco Bay Area and thousands of people were under orders to evacuate Wednesday as hundreds of wildfires blazed across the state amid a blistering heatwave now in its second week.

Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed this extraordinary weather we're experiencing and all of these lightning strikes for 367 known fires, including 23 major fires or groups of fires. He said the state has recorded nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours.

Police and firefighters went door-to-door before dawn Wednesday in a frantic scramble to warn residents to evacuate as fire encroached on Vacaville, a city of about 100,000 between San Francisco and Sacramento. At least 50 structures were destroyed, including some homes, and 50 damaged.

Firefighters struggling to contain three wildfires near Los Angeles are facing another challenge as forecasters warned that the risk of new fires was high with temperatures expected to spike humidity levels to drop across California.

READ: California wildfires burn amid high risk of brutal blazes

AP