Red Flag Warnings For NorCal As Crews Battle Fires

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fire officials say a change in the weather could make things more difficult for the thousands of firefighters who are battling wildfires burning across California.

In Northern California, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for a wide area of the region through Sunday evening, with forecasters saying wind gusts could hit 40 miles per hour and humidity levels will be low throughout the day.

Officials say there are nine major fires burning throughout the state. A relatively new fire, one that started Friday, is threatening about 300 homes outside of Ukiah.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Daniel Berlant says the Scotts fire, which has consumed about five square miles, remains about a mile away from homes, but those homes are directly in the path of the blaze.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.