Raging Wildfire Has Destroyed 24 Homes, Thousands More Threatened

At least 23 wildfires raged in forests and woodlands across California Sunday, taking the life of one firefighter and forcing hundreds to flee their homes. The biggest California wildfire — raging in the Lower Lake area north of San Francisco — spread overnight to cover even more drought-stricken ground, expanding more than 30 square miles in four or five hours, said California’s Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott. The fast-moving blaze had charred 84 square miles by Sunday, an area much bigger than San Francisco’s 49 square miles. It is only 5 percent contained.