With the expected arrival of high winds, firefighters were facing a uphill struggle to contain a series of wildfires across Northern California, authorities said on Wednesday.
The wind-driven fires have destroyed dozens of homes and burned thousands of acres across a wide swath of Northern California, according to authorities.
The fires are concentrated in areas north and east of Sacremento, the state capital, while separate blazes are burning near the coast in Monterey and Sonoma counties.
In Palermo, a town of about 5,000 residents about 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of Sacramento, a 1,600-acre wildfire destroyed 21 homes and about 28 other structures and 99 vehicles, said Kevin Colburn, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
It was about 60 percent contained this morning, but 275 homes remained threatened, he said.
Earlier, a wildfire forced the evacuation of residents at the Butte County community of Oroville while at least 350 firefighters fought to protect homes.
The fire had moved through the town and into more rural areas by early evening. Some residents were allowed to return to their homes as the fire danger passed, Colburn said.
In a blaze just south of Sacramento, a fire captain was hospitalized with severe burns after a grass fire unexpectedly changed direction and became more intense, Sacramento Metro Fire Department Capt. Jeff Lynch said.
The fire's progress was stopped late Tuesday, but about 70 firefighters were working Wednesday to keep it under control, Lynch said.
"We have a control line around the burn now, but we still have very volatile situation," Lynch said. "We have high wind, low humidity, higher temps than yesterday and dry grassland."
Grass, brush and trees are in matchstick condition across California after the driest March, April and May on record.
Source:Xinhua
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