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1 dead, homes torched, thousands evacuated ahead of Southern California wildfire

By Shawn Price, Sarah Mulé and Doug G. Ware
Firefighters take positions against the Sand Wildfire in Southern California. Since the fire started Friday, it has destroyed more than 50 square acres of land and resulted in the death of at least one person, authorities said. Photo courtesy Los Angeles County Fire Department/Facebook
1 of 2 | Firefighters take positions against the Sand Wildfire in Southern California. Since the fire started Friday, it has destroyed more than 50 square acres of land and resulted in the death of at least one person, authorities said. Photo courtesy Los Angeles County Fire Department/Facebook

CARMEL, Calif., July 25 (UPI) -- Some evacuees are being allowed to return north of Los Angeles even as the wildfire that has killed one person and destroyed nearly 20 homes expands to more than 35,000 acres, fire officials said Monday.

The so-called Sand Fire is only 10 percent contained and has grown to 35,155 acres, said the Los Angeles County fire department, but most of the evacuation orders were to be lifted by Monday evening.

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Firefighters continue to struggle to control the blaze in the Santa Clarita area of the Angeles National Forest, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, officials said at a news conference Monday. At least 18 homes have been torched and one person killed.

Officials said more than 3,000 firefighters are battling the flames, which started Friday, and trying to keep the wildfire away from populated areas.

"We fought all day to try to contain that and try to protect all those structures. We had a lot of people that had to run out, and we had a lot of us having to run in," Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief John Tripp said. "Conditions are very extreme."

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Los Angeles County Fire Dept./Facebook

A man was found dead inside of a burned vehicle near the fire, though officials have yet to reveal the cause of death.

A neighbor said the man had become separated from his significant other during the evacuation, KTLA reported Monday.

Fire officials said a substantial amount of dry vegetation in the area has fueled the blaze, and dry winds have made it worse. Sunday, officials said the fire was only 10 percent contained.

The Sand Fire isn't the only one causing trouble in the Golden State.

The Soberanes Fire in Northern California is also giving firefighters and residents fits. It has so far claimed six homes and threatens more than 1,600 in Monterey County, officials said.

The causes of both fires are under investigation.

Firefighting helicopters have circled the air between the Pacific Ocean and Garrapata State Park east of Highway 1, scooping up water and dousing flames all weekend. Rugged terrain, high winds and hot, dry air have made controlling the fire particularly challenging, officials said.

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