Wind-Whipped Wildfire Rips Through Auburn

A fast-moving wildfire fueled by wind, hot air and dry conditions has destroyed more than 60 structures, many of them homes, in the Sierra foothills town of Auburn and prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency.

CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant said Sunday that it was unclear how many of the burned structures were homes and how many were industrial buildings, and it was likely to remain uncertain until daylight.

The fire broke out at about 2:30 Sunday afternoon near Highway 49 and Bell Road in north Auburn and had burned some 275 acres, or more than one-third of a square mile.

Berlant says the fire was 50 percent contained by about 8 p.m. but that it was burning in populated areas of the town 34 miles northeast of Sacramento. Full containment is expected by Tuesday.

Hundreds of residents have evacuated.