Calif. blaze created destructive tornado
strength of tornadoes, he said. California has not recorded a tornado of that strength since 1978.
That fire continues to burn about 100 miles south of the Oregon border as firefighters there and throughout Northern California brace for worsening conditions this weekend.
The weather service issued warnings for critical fire weather conditions into Saturday, saying a series of dry low-pressure systems passing through the region would bring afternoon wind gusts.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation with extremely low humidity and high winds. New fires will grow rapidly out of control, in some cases people may not be able to evacuate safely in time should a fire approach,” the weather service said in its bulletin for the Mendocino area north of San Francisco.
Forecasters said areas with the highest threat include the massive blaze near Redding and two fires burning next to each other around Clearlake about 100 miles north of San Francisco.
The Redding fire has grown to
206 square miles and has destroyed 1,060 homes and many other structures.
The Ferguson Fire, meanwhile, jumped a freeway into Yosemite National Park, The Fresno Bee reported.
Cal Fire spokeswoman Natasha Fouts-noble said the fire has been burning inside Yosemite National Park for a few days as crews have conducted defensive burns along Wawona Road, also known as Highway 41, to try to contain the fire.
The Ferguson Fire burned 77,207 acres by Friday evening and remained only 41 percent contained as the closure of Yosemite Valley remained in effect through Sunday, authorities reported.