San Francisco Bay Area Wildfire Sparks Evacuations

September 8,2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLAYTON, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire burning in a San Francisco Bay Area wilderness park has led to the evacuation of several dozen homes.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the fire started Sunday afternoon on the edge of Mt. Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County about 15 miles northeast of San Francisco. Several hours later it had grown to 800 acres and spewed a plume of smoke visible for miles around.
About 50 to 75 homes in Clayton, a town of 11,000 people alongside the park, are under evacuation orders.
(MORE: Hunter to Blame for Massive Blaze)

About 200 firefighters from several surrounding agencies are struggling with tough terrain.
They were getting help from four planes and three helicopters.
The blaze is 10 percent contained.
Temperatures in the area hovered near 100 degrees.

MORE: Western Wildfires Slideshow

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Smoke Plume Viewed from Satellite

NASA

Satellite image of the smoke plume from the Cascade Creek Fire in Washington on September 12, 2012. Credit: NASA