Thousands evacuated as wildfire in northern California grows

Thousands have been evacuated and 10 homes have been destroyed as the Clayton Fire in northern California expanded.

Mandatory evacuations in the Lower Lake and Clearlake area included St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. All patients were transferred to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, according to KCRA.

The fire, which began Saturday night, covered 3,000 acres and was 5 percent contained in Lake County, Cal Fire posted on an update Sunday night.

A total of 1,044 firefighters are trying to control the fire but are being hampered by strong winds, low humidity and hot temperatures. Equipment includes seven helicopters and six air tankers.

The fire is spreading near Highway 29 in heavy brush.

"You have the dryness of the fuels," Cal Fire Spokesman Scott McLean said "You have the weather concerning us right now as the winds -- and you have the topography that makes it very difficult."

The blaze is near where wildfire charred thousands of acres in Lake County just a year ago.

Classes were canceled Monday for all Konocti Unified School District sites because of the fire.
 [upi.com]
15/8/16
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