California wildfire nearly triples in size

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Firefighters have deployed ground crews to battle a raging southern California wildfire that has nearly tripled in size as it threatens 4,000 homes. The Springs Fire, near Malibu 60km west of Los Angeles, grew to 11,330 hectares from 4,040 hectares on Friday morning. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) said that the blaze was just 20 percent contained. Aerial operations ended for the night, but ground crews would continue battling the blaze, the department said. California typically has fires later in the year, but strong winds and temperatures in the 90s (30s Celsius) have triggered a series of brushfires this week – including a new one in Glendale, just outside Los Angeles. In the fire near Malibu, nearly 1,000 firefighters battled wind-fanned flames that have ripped through tinder-dry brush, threatening some 4,000 homes during the day, the VCFD said. Some celebrities, including actors Jamie Foxx and Tom Selleck, live near the evacuation area, according to KTLA 5 television. Many of the homes were luxury ranches that had stables of horses and other animals.