2008 Woodie Awards
Illini Media
WPGU
buzz
Illio
TechnographWildfires spreading in California
Homes destroyed, citizens flee as state officials try to fight fires
By Don Thompson, The Associated Press
Posted: 6/23/08 Section: News
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Hundreds of wildfires sparked by lightning flared Sunday across the heart of wine country and remote forests in Northern California, the latest batch of destructive blazes in the bone-dry state.
One had spread across nearly 6 square miles by early Sunday after starting the previous afternoon in Napa County and quickly moving into a mostly rural area of Solano County.
The fire threatened more than 100 buildings as it fed on grassy woodland about 40 miles southwest of Sacramento, said Roger Archey, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
It was 10 percent contained Sunday morning and had destroyed one home, Archey said. Evacuations were ordered for some residents, said agency spokeswoman Nancy Carniglia.
Wildfires have destroyed more than 175 homes in Northern California so far this year. Blazes started popping up in the region just as California's unofficial fire season began in mid-May, following the state's driest two-month period on record.
A blaze about 25 miles south of San Jose forced several residents from their homes Sunday, though officials did not have exact figures. That fire covered nearly 2 square miles and was only 10 percent contained. It also was blamed on lightning.
Thunderstorms were responsible for as many as 75 fires in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, about 160 miles north of Sacramento. They ranged in size from less than an acre to more than a square mile. None immediately threatened homes, said Forest Service spokesman Michael Odle.
Mendocino County had as many as 90 fires, ranging in size up to 125 acres, Cal Fire officials said.
South of San Francisco, a fire that destroyed homes and closed a stretch of highway was 90 percent contained after charring just less than a square mile. Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, a day after roughly 2,000 people fled their homes.
It was the third major blaze to hit Santa Cruz County in the past month. A 520-acre blaze destroyed 11 buildings in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a fire near Corralitos covered more than 4,200 acres and destroyed about 100 buildings.
Along the coast in the Los Padres National Forest, a wildfire burning since Saturday forced 75 homes and businesses to be evacuated. And just miles away, firefighters worked to stanch a huge fire that has destroyed two homes since it began two weeks ago. It was nearly 60 percent contained after charring 83 square miles.
In New Mexico, hundreds of firefighters battled blazes that had charred more than 100 square miles, including more than 4,000 acres on a ranch owned by media mogul Ted Turner.
The fires were feeding on grass, brush, cacti and some pinon pine and juniper trees. No structures were threatened.
One had spread across nearly 6 square miles by early Sunday after starting the previous afternoon in Napa County and quickly moving into a mostly rural area of Solano County.
The fire threatened more than 100 buildings as it fed on grassy woodland about 40 miles southwest of Sacramento, said Roger Archey, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
It was 10 percent contained Sunday morning and had destroyed one home, Archey said. Evacuations were ordered for some residents, said agency spokeswoman Nancy Carniglia.
Wildfires have destroyed more than 175 homes in Northern California so far this year. Blazes started popping up in the region just as California's unofficial fire season began in mid-May, following the state's driest two-month period on record.
A blaze about 25 miles south of San Jose forced several residents from their homes Sunday, though officials did not have exact figures. That fire covered nearly 2 square miles and was only 10 percent contained. It also was blamed on lightning.
Thunderstorms were responsible for as many as 75 fires in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, about 160 miles north of Sacramento. They ranged in size from less than an acre to more than a square mile. None immediately threatened homes, said Forest Service spokesman Michael Odle.
Mendocino County had as many as 90 fires, ranging in size up to 125 acres, Cal Fire officials said.
South of San Francisco, a fire that destroyed homes and closed a stretch of highway was 90 percent contained after charring just less than a square mile. Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, a day after roughly 2,000 people fled their homes.
It was the third major blaze to hit Santa Cruz County in the past month. A 520-acre blaze destroyed 11 buildings in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a fire near Corralitos covered more than 4,200 acres and destroyed about 100 buildings.
Along the coast in the Los Padres National Forest, a wildfire burning since Saturday forced 75 homes and businesses to be evacuated. And just miles away, firefighters worked to stanch a huge fire that has destroyed two homes since it began two weeks ago. It was nearly 60 percent contained after charring 83 square miles.
In New Mexico, hundreds of firefighters battled blazes that had charred more than 100 square miles, including more than 4,000 acres on a ranch owned by media mogul Ted Turner.
The fires were feeding on grass, brush, cacti and some pinon pine and juniper trees. No structures were threatened.
The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.
The posting of copyrighted material, including any and all content for which you are not the author, is illegal under Federal intellectual property laws. Such activity will not be tolerated. Comments containing copyrighted material will be removed, and continued violation of copyright law is grounds for being banned completely from commenting on DailyIllini.com.
If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits review, please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com.
Be the first to comment on this story