Wildfires prompt N Calif evacuations

Wildfires in Northern California and Idaho drove thousands of people from their homes, authorities said Sunday. The Los Angeles Times reported officials said about 2,000 residents were ordered from their homes as the 12,000-acre Ponderosa fire raged southeast of Redding in Shasta County. A state of emergency was declared as Cal Fire spokeswoman Mary Ann Aldrich said the blaze, which started in Tehama County Saturday, destroyed seven homes and threatened another 3,000, the newspaper said. About 1,000 firefighters were working to contain the wildfire, Aldrich said. The cause of the fire had not been determined, the Times said. The Idaho Statesman reported the sheriff in Elmore County had ordered the evacuation of the Featherville area Saturday as the Trinity Ridge fire pressed closer. The fire had burned about 88,500 acres by Sunday and was only 5 percent contained, though rain was expected Sunday night, the newspaper said. Fire managers also had warned people in the path of the Mustang fire to be prepared to leave quickly if necessary. The Halstead fire northwest of Stanley had burned nearly 92,000 acres and was only 3 percent contained, officials said. The Custer County sheriff ordered evacuations Friday that included Custer Town and Jordan Creek, the Statesman said. A number of other wildfires also continued to burn in Idaho, where Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter declared a state disaster on Aug. 15 to support firefighting efforts across the state.