Northern California wildfire threatens 500 buildings

29/6/2022 15:02

        A wildfire that erupted in Northern California forced evacuations as it threatened about 500 homes and other buildings Tuesday.
        
        The unit chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said, Rices Fire erupted at around 2 p.m. near the Yuba River in Nevada County and had spread to more than 202 hectares by nightfall.
        
        He said, the flames also threatened power lines, water delivery systems and a state park.
        
        The rural area is in the Sierra Nevada, northeast of Sacramento and about halfway between the state Capitol and the Nevada border.
        
        Authorities earlier said the fire began with a burning building and the flames spread to nearby dry vegetation.
        
        At an evening news conference, however, Estes said he couldn't confirm reports that some buildings had been destroyed.
        
        County Sheriff Shannan Moon said, about 350 buildings homes and other buildings were under evacuation orders.
        
        Firefighters fought the blaze on the ground and in the air, with aircraft making dozens of drops of water and fire retardant.