By Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter A drought emergency has been proclaimed in California after a wildfire that erupted early Thursday morning claimed 17 structures, including a guesthouse that was part of the Singer estate. At least 10 renters were left homeless when the fire destroyed the garage and rental rooms above it as well as the guesthouse on the historic grounds of a retreat that once was the summer home of the Singer sewing machine family. Statues of Jesus and Mary stood unharmed near the blackened ruins. However, the main mansion, built in 1924 and a designated Glendora Historic Landmark, was spared.
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Governor Jerry Brown has formally proclaimed California in a drought emergency Friday
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The conditions are putting residents and their property in 'extreme peril'
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Seventeen structures have been destroyed in a fire east of Los Angeles, including buildings on the historic Singer estate
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The fire is abating and authorities say it is 30 per cent contained
An acrid smoggy haze descended across the @placeholder basin all the way to the coast.