Firefighters continued to battle several wind-fueled wildfires in southern California Friday, including a new rapidly expanding blaze that erupted north of San Diego. Over the past five days, the fires have destroyed at least 500 structures and forced almost 200,000 people to evacuate their homes said.
California's Battle Against Wildfires Continues
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![Firefighters battle the Lilac fire in Bonsall, California, Dec. 8, 2017.](https://gdb.voanews.com/846b210a-9834-4084-8731-f68905c70d44_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Firefighters battle the Lilac fire in Bonsall, California, Dec. 8, 2017.
![A photo taken from the International Space Station and moved on social media by astronaut Randy Bresnik shows smoke rising from wildfire burning in Southern California, Dec. 6, 2017.](https://gdb.voanews.com/3fd9aa82-74c4-465e-9ac8-d867b0603684_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A photo taken from the International Space Station and moved on social media by astronaut Randy Bresnik shows smoke rising from wildfire burning in Southern California, Dec. 6, 2017.
![Firefighters monitor the Thomas fire as it burns through Los Padres National Forest near Ojai, California, Dec. 8, 2017.](https://gdb.voanews.com/6fae66d5-5d03-402e-9af2-e899a4770e94_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Firefighters monitor the Thomas fire as it burns through Los Padres National Forest near Ojai, California, Dec. 8, 2017.
![Fire crews search for hot spots among destroyed homes in the Rancho Monserate Country Club community, Dec. 8, 2017, in Fallbrook, California.](https://gdb.voanews.com/14c7cd4c-1cdd-4d4a-966a-848b5535d5c9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Fire crews search for hot spots among destroyed homes in the Rancho Monserate Country Club community, Dec. 8, 2017, in Fallbrook, California.