Army on stand-by to battle US wildfires

More than 8,500 firefighters are tackling blazes across the western US.

The army is set to be called in help contain the flames.

Firefighters have called for the voluntary evacuation of about a dozen homes on the Nevada - California border, and Governor John Kitzhaber has declared a state of emergency.

"We are getting to the point where we are stretching our resources pretty thin," said David Widmark, spokesman for the Northwest Interagency Co-ordination Centre in Portland. "We are asking for additional help."

The National Interagency Fire Centre went to Level Four status for the first time this year because of fires in northern California, Nevada and Washington and Oregon.

The preparedness level ranges from one to five.

Spokeswoman Cherry Ascherfeld said the decision opens the door for the military to help fight fires.

A 55,000 acre fire is threatening 13 ranch homes on the California - Nevada border.

A wildfire burning in Mendocino National Forest, also in California, has claimed about 13,000 acres since it began last Wednesday.

More than 1,500 firefighters as well as 14 helicopters, six air tankers and four bulldozers are fighting the blaze.

In northern Nevada, more than 190,000 acres have burned since lightning-filled thunderstorms marched across the state late last week.

The largest Nevada blaze, 25 miles north of Battle Mountain, had burned 82,000 acres by Monday.