Islanders Flee Wildfire

HUNDREDS of people fled Santa Catalina Island off the California coast yesterday after a huge wildfire broke out.

They protected themselves from falling ash as they boarded ferries back to the mainland.

Some 1200 homes were evacuated as flames threatened the outskirts of the city of Avalon on the island 20 miles off the coast.

Firefighters were battling to control the blazes last night after emergency equipment arrived on giant military hovercrafts.

Avalon fire chief Steven Hoefs said: “We’re hanging in for now.”

It’s the latest large wildfire in the US, with Georgia and Florida badly hit in recent weeks.

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