Lightning sparks hundreds of fires in California
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/22/california.wildfires.ap/index.htmlLightning sparks hundreds of fires in California
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Lightning sparks hundreds of fires around Northern California
Fire spreads across 6 square miles in Solano, Napa counties
Wildfires have destroyed at least 125 homes in Northern California this year
Fire threatened more than 100 buildings 40 miles southwest of Sacramento
SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- 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 (15 1/2 square kilometers) 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 (64 kilometers) southwest of Sacramento, said Roger Archey, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
It was 35 percent contained Sunday evening and had destroyed one home, officials said. Evacuations were ordered for some residents, said agency spokeswoman Nancy Carniglia.Watch wildfires burn in Napa ยป
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.
Two small blazes about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Jose forced several residents from their homes Sunday. Both were partially contained, and officials said most residents would be let back into their homes by Monday. Those fires were also blamed on lightning.
Thunderstorms were responsible for as many as 75 fires in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, about 160 miles (257 kilometers) north of Sacramento. None immediately threatened homes, said Forest Service spokesman Michael Odle.
Mendocino County had as many as 90 fires, charring nearly 8 square miles (21 square kilometers), Cal Fire officials said.
South of San Francisco, a fire that started Friday in Santa Cruz County and destroyed homes and closed a stretch of highway was contained after charring just less than a square mile (2.59 sq. kilometer). 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 (210-hectare) blaze destroyed 11 buildings in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a fire near Corralitos covered more than 4,200 acres (1,700 hectares) 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 (kilometers) 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 (215 square kilometers).
In southern New Mexico, firefighters burned out vegetation along a forest road to stop a 67-square-mile (173-sq. kilometer) wildfire. The fire was 35 percent contained Sunday, fire information officer Deanna Younger said.
Two other lightning-sparked wildfires also had burned nearly 47 square miles (122 sq. kilometers). One was west of Roswell in southern New Mexico and the other west of Raton in the northern part of the state.
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