In pictures: California fires

More than 1,000 bush fires have been burning across central and northern California.

Fire crews are struggling to contains the blazes, which have claimed the life of a firefighter so far.

One of the largest fires has swept through about 50,000 acres of forest near Big Sur, a major tourist destination on the central coast.

Many homes and businesses in the Big Sur area have been evacuated.

Another fire is threatening about 200 homes near the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara county.

US President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency for the whole of California.

The fires have been burning since dry lightning storms hit the state two weeks ago.

The most scenic portions of Highway 1 between Los Angeles and San Francisco have been closed.

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