Wildfire in NorCal forest burns 350 acres, moves away from nearby town

ORLEANS, Calif. -- A wildfire in the Six Rivers National Forest in Northern California that has forced the evacuation of about 50 homes was moving away from a nearby town Tuesday, officials said.

The Dance Fire had jumped Highway 96 and was moving up a gulch away from the community of Orleans, forest spokeswoman Julie Ranieri said. Orleans is located in Humboldt County about 300 miles northwest of Sacramento.

"It's progressing, and it's spotting ahead of the fire," she said.

Ranieri said two homes and several outbuildings have been destroyed since the fire began Monday evening. Power and phone lines have also been knocked down. The fire was threatening 20 other structures in addition to the 50 rural homes.

As of Tuesday morning, the blaze had burned about 350 acres. It was 10 percent contained.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

At least some of the evacuees were from Orleans. Ranieri said two evacuation shelters were set up, one in Orleans and the other at a nearby elementary school.

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