Five Homes Destroyed, 1,000 Threatened by California Wildfire

Mandatory evacuations were in effect overnight for those in danger because of a Northern California wildfire, which has already destroyed five homes and is threatening 1,000 more, a state fire spokesman said. The Applegate Fire -- centered in Placer County, about 40 miles northeast up Interstate 80 from Sacramento -- had burned 420 acres and was 20% contained as of late Thursday afternoon, according to Cal Fire’s website. It is not expected to abate much until at least Friday.