*** ----> More homes evacuated as California fires grow | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

More homes evacuated as California fires grow

Los AngelesThe largest fires in Sonoma and Napa counties continued to grow overnight yesterday, threatening more homes and prompting new evacuations, authorities said.

Already, the fires have scorched more than 100,000 acres and left at least 17 people dead. Increased winds threatened to make containment of the fires even more difficult yesterday.

Fire officials anticipate northeast winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts up to 35 to 40 miles per hour, throughout Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties on Wednesday, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Lynne Tolmachoff.

Tuesday evening, the Tubbs fire that levelled much of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County had exceeded 28,000 acres with no containment. The Atlas fire in Napa County had grown to 26,000 acres and was 3per cent contained, Tolmachoff said. Other fires ranging in size from 1,800 to 21,000 acres burned throughout the area and in surrounding counties.