A wildfire burning in California's Central Valley spread across thousands of acres overnight and forced residents to flee their homes.
The Detwiller fire, which started just before 4 p.m. Sunday, scorched 7,100 acres Monday about 40 miles east of Modesto, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The fire destroyed one structure and damaged another.
Mariposa County sheriff's officials ordered the evacuation of all homes on three roads as flames crept closer to residential neighborhoods.
The fire attracted onlookers the fire lines, prompting the Sheriff's Office to warn: "Please stay out of the area."
"Lots of people out there trying to take photos but we would like to remind everyone that fire can be a very fast moving changing situation, it is very important to keep the roads clear for emergency traffic," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Farther north in Mendocino County, about 450 firefighters took on the 900-acre Grade fire.
Burning five miles northwest of Redwood Valley, the fire triggered evacuation warnings in the Baker Creek subdivision.
The wildfire started about 2:50 p.m. Sunday along Highway 101 and threatened nearby homes and structures, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Elsewhere, the 18,311-acre Whittier fire continued to burn into the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Goleta in Santa Barbara County. The fire was 49 percent contained.
The fire, which started July 8 in the Lake Cachuma area, destroyed 30 outbuildings and 16 homes, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Flames damaged one home and six outbuildings.
Helped by water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, fire crews worked Monday to protect the Cold Springs Tavern, a historic restaurant along Highway 154.
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