California wildfire burns through 900 acres, 14 injured as hundreds of homes remain under threat

Natalie Neysa Alund
Updated ·1 min read
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The fast-growing wildfire near South Yuba River State Park in California has grown to more than 900 acres in four days, prompting evacuation orders for hundreds of residents of nearby communities.
The fast-growing wildfire near South Yuba River State Park in California has grown to more than 900 acres in four days, prompting evacuation orders for hundreds of residents of nearby communities.

A fast-growing California wildfire near South Yuba River State Park has grown to more than 900 acres in four days, prompting evacuation orders for hundreds of residents of nearby communities, fire officials said.

The blaze, named the Rices fire, is in Nevada County about 70 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to information from the National Interagency Fire Center.

The fire began about 2 p.m. Tuesday near the Yuba River. As of late Thursday, firefighters had about 20% of the blaze contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

So far, 13 firefighters and one civilian have been injured, CalFire reported. The injuries were heat-related, such as dehydration.

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Although some evacuation orders were lifted Thursday, Cal Fire says about 250 homes and other buildings remained under threat.

The small communities of Birchville, Sweetland, French Corral, Bridgeport, Rices Crossing and the Buttermilk area remained under evacuation orders Friday.

Firefighters managed to save this home along Troost Trail in California's Nevada County.
Firefighters managed to save this home along Troost Trail in California's Nevada County.
A firefighter assesses the approaching flames along Troost Trail in California's rural Nevada County as the Rices fire intensified.
A firefighter assesses the approaching flames along Troost Trail in California's rural Nevada County as the Rices fire intensified.

Evacuation warnings also were issued for areas of neighboring Yuba County, meaning people there should be prepared to leave.

Contributing: The Associated Press. Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California Rices wildfire burns over 900 acres, prompts evacuations