Thousands told to leave homes in California

Update:

  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Thousands of people are being told to leave their homes because of a wildfire burning in thick forest near some rural communities in far northern California.
   The fire began at midday yesterday. It's destroyed four homes and consumed nearly 11 square miles. Fire officials say about 3,500 homes are threatened -- including a "good majority" that are under immediate threat. Many are in the path of the fire.
   Meanwhile, in Washington state, better weather conditions over the weekend have helped firefighters gain ground on the fire that has scorched dozens of homes east of the Cascades.
   A spokesman for the firefighting effort says the lightning strikes that had been feared haven't materialized.
   Firefighters have also made progress at a wildfire near Grand Coulee Dam that burned about 17 square miles.
   Hundreds of homes in Idaho are under a mandatory evacuation order. They're in an area of recreation getaways about 100 miles northeast of Boise. They're in the path of a 130-square-mile wildfire that's been burning for two weeks.


New fire forces evacuations in California

   SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Fire officials say that a wildfire in California is threatening small communities in the far northern part of the state.
   The fire, which started Saturday, has destroyed four homes and consumed nearly 11 square miles as it burns near the towns of Minton, Shingleton, and Viola.
   State fire spokesman Daniel Berlant says 3,500 homes spread out across a rural area along the border of Tehama and Shasta counties are threatened. The fire is burning in a rugged area of thick forests about 170 miles north of Sacramento.
   The cause of the fire has not been determined, but officials say it started after a series of lightning strikes in the area.Thousands told to leave homes in California

Posted: Sunday, August 19 2012, 02:41 PM CDT