Residents flee as Raging Wildfire threatens N. California town*

14 Jun 2008 22:24:04 GMT
Source: Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO, June 14 (Reuters) - Thousands of residents fled a
Northern California town on Saturday as a fire in the surrounding
grasslands threatened to engulf more homes, officials said.

Firefighters ordered the evacuation of southern Paradise, California,
because a nearby fire had consumed 35 square miles (90 square km) and
destroyed 75 homes since it started on Friday. Another 5,600 houses are
at risk, said Scott Upton, a spokesman for the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection.

About 3,000 firefighters are battling the blaze between Chico and
Paradise, two cities about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northeast of San
Francisco, Upton said.

"Difficult terrain and heavy brush is making it hard for fire crews to
get in place," Upton said.

An elderly woman had a heart attack and died while preparing to leave
her home, Upton said. Eight firefighters sustained minor injuries.

The fire was 35 percent contained on Saturday afternoon, and authorities
said they expected full containment by Monday.

(Reporting by Amanda Beck)