Smoky fire prompts evacuations in rural Northern California

WINTERS, Calif. (AP) — Strong winds on Sunday fed a smoky fire that threatened about 100 rural homes and prompted evacuations in Northern California.

Fire officials said the fast-growing blaze burned about 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) of dry brush and timber near the town of Winter. Gusts sent smoke about 30 miles east into downtown Sacramento.

The fire began around 4:30 p.m. Saturday and was just 5% contained by nighttime.

Evacuations were ordered for about 100 threatened homes just southwest of Winters, a rural town in Yolo County with about 6,600 residents.

The cause was under investigation.