A fast-spreading wildfire east of San Francisco has burned through more than 12,000 acres, shut down major highways and prompted evacuation orders for nearby residents, according to public safety alerts and Cal Fire, California’s firefighting agency.
The blaze, named the Corral Fire, began Saturday afternoon outside Tracy, Calif., and was only 13 percent contained early Sunday, Cal Fire said.
The fire is the largest so far in this year’s California wildfire season, which typically runs from April to October.
After an unusually wet winter that included heavy snowfall and significant rainfall, experts expect the spring and summer seasons to stay relatively mild.
Still, California fire officials warned last week that an abundance of dry grass in the San Francisco and Modesto areas was creating a greater fire hazard as summer neared.
Organizations:
Cal Fire, Residents
Locations:
San Francisco, Tracy, Calif, California, Modesto, Santa Clara