A couple of fast-growing wildfires in northern California expanded by more than 25 percent overnight and continued to spread on Saturday afternoon as more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes and weary firefighters endured high temperatures and gusting winds.Two blazes collectively called the Mendocino Complex burned in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties, about 90 miles (145 km) north of San Francisco. The River and Ranch fires had grown to cover a total of 201,471 acres (81,500 hectares) by early Saturday, and were considered 34-percent contained.
The scorched land figure is expected to rise when the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) issues an update on Saturday night, spokeswoman Tricia Austin said.
This year, California wildfires have burned more land earlier in the "fire season" than usual, said Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director, during a news ...
