Northern California Wildfire Threatening 100 Homes

REDDING, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire burning along Interstate 5 in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California has forced the evacuation of 100 homes.

The fire near the community of O'Brien about 16 miles north of Redding had consumed 500 acres and was 20 percent contained as of Thursday morning, a day after it began.

US Forest Service representative Don Ferguson said crews aided by lighter winds made progress against the blaze overnight. Still, another 20 homes were added to the evacuation list.

The fire is also threatening 20 commercial buildings and 100 other structures. One outbuilding has already been destroyed.

The blaze began in the median of I-5 on Wednesday afternoon and is believed to have been sparked by human activity.

It forced the closure of I-5 for several hours although Ferguson said the highway is now open in both directions.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.