California wildfire in Sonoma County sends residents fleeing

CLOVERDALE, Calif. – A wildfire that erupted amid hot, dry conditions and gusty winds in Sonoma County north of San Francisco has sent about 90 people fleeing from their homes.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the blaze in rural Cloverdale began Sunday morning and spread to 1,500 acres (607 hectares), or more than 2 square miles (5.2 square kilometers).

Fire spokesman Paul Lowenthal says about 90 people in 36 homes were evacuated, and that the fire was threatening the Geysers geothermal field.

Firefighters were battling the blaze in steep terrain, temperatures in the high 90s, and strong winds in the higher elevations of northern Sonoma and northern Napa counties.

The fire is about 10 percent contained.