CALIFORNIA Wildfire slows down

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. (AP) -- A 7,500-acre wildfire in northern central California lost some of its steam early today as winds began to subside, fire officials said.
Winds died down overnight, causing the fire to slow by early today, said Kent Hiemforth, a fire information operator.
The fire, which began Wednesday by sparks from a lawn mower, destroyed almost 70 homes and forced hundreds of people to flee from the area. The blaze charred grass, brush and timber in its path, state Forestry Department officials said. It was 50 percent contained.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from the vast area threatened by the fire and a shelter was set up at a nearby community college. At least 390 homes have been evacuated. Two firefighters had minor injuries.
Firefighters tackled the blaze Thursday amid temperatures climbing above 100 degrees for a second straight day. Additional firefighters arrived overnight, bringing the number of personnel on scene to more than 1,600.
Officials cited the lawn mower operator, and the person might be held responsible for the costs of suppressing the fire, state Forestry Department spokesman Kevin Colburn said.
In Washington state, authorities ordered evacuations near a 1,330-acre fire, about 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee. About 20 homes in two canyons were evacuated, and about a dozen residents in a third canyon were ordered to leave as the fire grew.