[ad_1]
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A wind blown forest fire destroyed a dozen buildings and threatened hundreds of other Sundays while he was running through dry scrub in northern California.
The Pawnee fire, which erupted on Saturday near the small community of Clearlake Oaks, was one of four wildfires in predominantly rural areas, while wind and heat gripped California from San Jose to the border of Oregon.
The fire destroyed 12 buildings and threatened another 600, as it escaped control of about 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers). It's north of the wine region as devastating forest fires killed 44 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses last October.
The authorities ordered people to evacuate all homes in the residential area of Spring Valley and surrounding areas. Rescue centers for residents and animals have been opened. No injuries have been reported.
"What we emphasize is that people, when they get the evacuation order, immediately occupy it and go out until the return is done in safely, "said Jonathan Cox, chief of the forest department battalion.
"It's one of the four big fires burning in northern California, which reminds us that the fire season is imminent," he said.
Another fire consumed 5.5 square miles in nearby Tehama County, but did not burn any building. Some homes were under threat and some had been evacuated, Cox said, although there are no precise numbers. It was partially contained.
Another smaller fire, also in Tehama County, was almost half locked up after eating less than a mile of undergrowth. The fourth fire in neighboring Shasta County, still smaller, contained three-quarters.
Pawnee fire was driven by erratic winds, low humidity and high temperatures. Firefighters fought in a hilly area that made it difficult to get close to the engines and other equipment.
"It's sort of the worst combination possible," Cox said.
The fire department had no idea when it could be contained and did not know yet what had caused it.
Matthew Henderson, who was in the area taking pictures, said he saw the fire jump on a road to a place, briefly cutting off access to a part of Spring Valley until the firefighters repel him.
More than 230 firefighters using helicopters, bulldozers and other equipment were fighting the fire.
Source link
