Oak Fire: Wildfire grows as firefighters battle punishing heat

The Oak Fire has now burned 15,603 acres of land and is still "Zero per cent uncontained", California's fire department said on Sunday night. A further 3,271 structures - both homes and businesses - are under threat, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported. A state of emergency was declared in Mariposa County on Saturday, and will allow the state to access some federal assistance to tackle the fires. The scale of the blaze marks an ominous start to California's wildfire season and officials have warned that a combination of drought, climate change, and overgrown vegetation are posing significant challenges and increasing the chances of the fire spreading rapidly. The US Forest Service said on Friday it is taking emergency measures to protect the trees, including removing low-lying vegetation that can fuel fires and other measures.

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