Wild Fire

The Oak Fire has quickly grown since starting on Friday, and firefighters have struggled to get the blaze under control.

"Explosive fire behaviour is challenging firefighters", California's fire department said.

More than 6,000 people have been evacuated and 10 homes destroyed.

The state of emergency, which has been declared in Mariposa County, will allow the state to access some federal assistance to tackle the fires.

More than 11,000 people have been forced to leave France's south-western Gironde region in the past few days.

Dozens of fires are burning in Portugal and Spain where temperatures have surged above 40C.

At least 281 deaths in both countries were linked to the heat and several towns in western Spain were evacuated.

Portuguese villagers were also told to flee when flames crossed the border from Spain.

Many were given only minutes to leave as hundreds of firefighters were deployed in the Var region to the west of Saint-Tropez.

Fire officials say the blaze broke out on Monday and has consumed some 6,000 hectares (14,820 acres).

Twenty people suffered smoke inhalation and six firefighters were hurt.

BBC TV presenter Geeta Guru-Murthy described fleeing on foot as flames approached on both sides of the road.

Water-bombing helicopters are dousing the flames near Istiaia, at the island's northern tip. Ukraine, Romania and Serbia sent help to the fire zone.

Evia is just north of Athens, where fires on the northern outskirts are now less intense.

Besides Greece, there are also big wildfires in Italy, Algeria and Russia.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from villages in Greece, which is also getting firefighting help from some other EU countries, Switzerland and the UK.

Greece, Italy and Israel have pledged help, and British troops stationed on the island are already involved.

The blaze, fanned by strong winds, is spreading through the southern Limassol district and has forced the evacuation of several villages.

On Sunday, four people were confirmed to have died in the fire.

The victims are believed to be Egyptian farm workers reported missing after their car was destroyed by the blaze.

Local media said their bodies were found about 400m from their burnt-out vehicle near the village of Odos.