Firefighters Make Headway Against Wind-Driven Blaze Near California

California firefighters on Sunday made significant progress in containing a wind-driven wildfire that erupted 60 miles (97 kilometres) east of San Francisco, burning thousands of acres, destroying a home, and prompting evacuations near the central California city of Tracy.

The fire broke out Saturday in the grassy hills managed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a prominent centre for nuclear weapons science and technology in the United States. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported that although the research centre was not immediately threatened by the blaze, dubbed the Corral Fire, it had consumed approximately 22 square miles (52 square kilometres) by Sunday afternoon. Firefighters had achieved 50% containment of the fire by Sunday evening.

Thousands of residents in the area, including parts of Tracy, with a population of 100,000, were ordered to evacuate to evacuation centres on Saturday. However, the evacuation order was lifted on Sunday evening, allowing residents to return home.

CalFire Battalion Chief Josh Silveira stated on Sunday afternoon that the fire had approached homes in the area, destroying one house. With milder weather conditions and calmer winds prevailing on Sunday, Silveira expressed confidence that the fire would not expand further.

Two firefighters sustain burns

Two firefighters sustained minor to moderate burns on Saturday but were expected to fully recover, according to Silveira. The wildfire posed no immediate threat to laboratory facilities or operations, according to Lawrence Livermore spokesperson Paul Rhien. Nevertheless, the laboratory activated its emergency operations centre as a precaution.

The wildfire prompted the closure of two major highways, including an interstate connecting the San Francisco Bay Area to San Joaquin County, but these had reopened by Sunday afternoon. The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services issued evacuation orders for several areas on Saturday and advised residents to temporarily use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking.