"A fast-growing wildfire on Thursday destroyed at least 80 homes near the riverside community of Lake Isabella in central California, as a threat to populated areas from five other major blazes across the state diminished, authorities said.

The so-called Erskine Fire erupted around 4 p.m. in the foothills of Kern County about 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Bakersfield.

Within hours it exploded to cover between 3,000 and 5,000 acres (1,200 to 2,000 hectares)of drought-parched brush and grass, fire information website InciWeb said."

Dan Whitcomb and Steve Gorman report for Reuters June 24, 2016. [2]