Mono County, California — Fast moving forest fires Tornadoes in a picturesque California county along the Nevada border destroyed 15 buildings, prompted evacuations and forced the closure of part of a highway on Thursday as firefighters worked to contain it in the face of strong winds.
The fire in Mono County, about 140 miles (225.3 kilometers) southeast of Sacramento, had grown to about 5.3 square miles (13.7 square kilometers) by Thursday night and was burning without any containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
The fire was sparked by winds of up to 50 mph (80.5 kph) that temporarily grounded emergency aircraft, according to Cal Fire. But by Thursday evening, the department said in a statement: “Fire activity had decreased due to rainfall in the area.”
“Crews will be working through the night, and additional resources will arrive tomorrow,” according to Cal Fire.
A portion of Interstate 395 was temporarily closed and the McGee Creek RV Park was affected, but it was not clear if any homes were destroyed.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Evacuation shelters were set up at a middle school and the Tri-County Fairgrounds, according to Cal Fire.
The rural county lies between the Sierra Nevada and the Nevada state line. It is famous for its majestic mountainous borders, lakes and pine forests.