California firefighters battle wind-driven wildfire east of San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO– California firefighters, aided by aircraft, battled a wind-driven forest fire Saturday in an area straddling the San Francisco Bay and central California, authorities said.

Gusty winds fueled the Corral Fire near the town of Tracy, 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of San Francisco, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the town of Livermore, according to the California Department of Forestry and Conservation. fire protection, or Cal Feu.

The fire grew to 18 square kilometers within hours, sending dark plumes of smoke high into the sky. It was 40% contained, Cal Fire said.

Interstate 580, which connects the San Francisco Bay Area to San Joaquin County in central California, was closed in both directions, from Corral Hollow Road to Interstate 5, due to poor visibility due to smoke, the California Department of Transportation said in a statement.

The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services issued an evacuation order, locating the wildfire to an area east of Interstate 580. Residents between Corral Hollow Road and Tracy Boulevard were issued ordered to leave their homes, while residents south of Tracy Boulevard were asked to prepare for evacuation.