|
Three Fires Burn In No. California
Thursday, October 14, 2004 — Wildfires continue to rage in California as residents across the state are forced to evacuate their homes to escape at least three major fires.
The Rumsey fire is the biggest so far, burning in the Rumsey Canyon near Sonoma in Northern California. More than 38,616 acres have burned so far, and fire officials hope to have the blaze contained by Saturday. Nearly 2,000 firefighters were battling the wildfire in Napa and Yolo counties near Lake Berryessa. The blaze was 45 percent contained Wednesday night, thanks in part to favorable weather conditions. Investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set on Sunday evening. On Tuesday, fire officials issued a voluntary evacuation order for Lake Berryessa Estates, a community of 75 near the lake's northwest shore. Evacuees were being sent to a nearby school.
Firefighters battle a blaze in California. Fires are also burning in Nevada and Alaska.
|
The American Red Cross opened a shelter yesterday to accommodate residents fleeing another fire that started yesterday near El Dorado National Forest, also in Northern California. The blaze has already burned more than 3,000 acres and is only 10 percent contained. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, and no one is yet sure when residents will be allowed to return home.
A third, the Power Fire, has been burning for more than a week and has already scorched more than 5,400 acres near Bear River, also in Northern California. Traffic is being rerouted in some parts of the area because roads are impassable. The fire has not destroyed any structures yet, but it continues to threaten some forest buildings.
|
