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California fire that killed 3 threatens thousands of homes

Posted at 6:03 AM, Sep 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-10 09:03:33-04

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) - A Northern California wildfire is threatening thousands of homes after winds whipped it into a monster that incinerated houses in a small mountain community and killed at least three people.

The North Complex fire northeast of San Francisco exploded to six times its previous size between Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to gusting winds.

The winds have subsided but only after flames critically burned several people and damaged or destroyed hundreds, if not thousands, of homes and other buildings.

Some 20,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings in three counties. Other large fires are burning around the state and the West.