Firefighters are still struggling to contain a wildfire in Northern California, and expect hot, windy conditions today to make their job more difficult.
A blaze known as the Humboldt Fire that started Wednesday in Butte County has grown to 20,484 acres, destroying 40 homes and threatening 4,600 structures, fire officials said.
More than 1,300 firefighters in 78 engines, plus helicopters and air tankers, were fighting the blaze this morning, which was only 15% contained, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Alisha Herring in Sacramento.
After winds shifted Thursday, flames moved toward the city of Paradise, population 30,000, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. Fire officials have since ordered evacuations for southern Paradise, Butte Valley and Butte Creek Canyon, home to about 1,500 people, Herring said.
So far, only five minor injuries associated with the fire have been reported by firefighters and civilians, Herring said.
She said firefighters were having difficulty holding off the flames this morning due to rising winds.
"The winds are making it very difficult to allow the crews to get ahead of the fire," she said, "[with] spotting in multiple directions because of the wind shifts."
As winds pick up this afternoon, Herring said fire officials also expect temperatures to reach 100 degrees.
"Put the winds on top of that, and it makes it very difficult to get the fire contained," she said.
molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com
