Calif. fire threatens thousands of homes

The charred remains of a building leveled by fire near Manton, Calif.
The charred remains of a building leveled by fire near Manton, Calif. (RICH PEDRONCELLI / AP)
By Haven Daley and Terry Collins, Associated Press
Posted: August 21, 2012

MANTON, Calif. - A huge wildfire sparked by lightning in Northern California burned to the edges of three small towns Monday, threatening thousands of homes as fearful residents sought safety miles away at an emergency shelter.

"All we can do is pray," evacuee Jerry Nottingham told reporters.

The fast-moving Ponderosa fire was one of many burning across the West, where lightning, dry conditions, and gusting winds have brought an early start to fire season.

More than 1,400 firefighters were battling the Ponderosa fire in rugged, densely forested terrain as it threatened 3,500 homes in the towns of Manton, Shingletown, and Viola, about 170 miles north of Sacramento.

"These are the largest number of homes we've had threatened so far this year," state firefighting spokesman Daniel Berlant said. "The grass, brush, and timber up here are so dry, and once the lightning with no rain struck, the flames began to spread quickly."

The fire has destroyed seven homes while blackening 23 square miles. It was just 5 percent contained after beginning Saturday.

The fire forced the closure of Highway 44 and other roads and prompted the declaration of an emergency in Shasta County. The Red Cross set up an evacuation center in Redding.

"We have air tankers, helicopters and bulldozers, and hand crews all available to us," Berlant said. "We're using every resource we have to put out this fire."

Another massive wildfire burning to the south in Plumas National Forest since July 29 grew larger over the weekend as strong winds pushed the flames past fire lines established late last week.

The blaze, about 120 miles north of Sacramento, has consumed more than 73 square miles and was threatening about 900 homes. It was 32 percent contained.

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