California’s Sequoia National Forest Goes Up in Flames; Hundreds of Homeowners Flee

Bright flames light up the side of this hill, north of Kernville, Calif., Tuesday, July 27, 2010. (AP Photo/The Bakersfield Californian, Casey Christie)

A smoky wildfire tearing through acres of Sequoia National Forest in California has sent hundreds of homeowners fleeing.

At least two buildings in the fire’s path have already been destroyed, fire officials said, NBC News reported.

The fire has been blazing since Friday night, and by Sunday, was only 10 percent contained. Gusty winds with strengths up to 20 miles per hour haven’t helped the firefighting cause, officials said.

Between 500 and 1,000 local residents have been sent packing. More than 1,000 firefighters are on the job, NBC News reported.

“Our current outlook for the forecast is such that we are really ramping up suppression operations over the next couple of days because it’s going to be even hotter and dryer at the end of the week,” said Forest Service spokeswoman Jennifer Chapman in the NBC News report.

SOURCE: Cheryl K. Chumley 
The Washington Times