Over 1,200 evacuated as wildfire rages in California

A wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 500 homes and about 1,200 residents in a rural area east of the California state capital Sacramento on Saturday, a day after the blaze broke out, fire officials said.

The wind-swept fire burned more than 3,000 acres, destroying five residences and two outbuildings and causing one minor injury, said Lynne Tolmachoff, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

The fire is centred about 8km north of the town of Plymouth and 45km east of Sacramento in north central California and it covers parts of Amador and El Dorado counties, according to Cal Fire.

About 250 homes were ordered evacuated on Saturday afternoon, bringing the total number to 515 since the blaze erupted on Friday, Tolmachoff said.

Flames were moving rapidly on Saturday but dying winds and cooler temperatures by the evening helped firefighters take control. An evacuation shelter for people, livestock, dogs and cats was established at a local high school.

More than 50 fire engines were on the scene of the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation.

— Reuters