Northern California wildfire swells to 1,000 acres

Firefighters in Northern California battled a wildfire Wednesday that had ripped through 1,000 acres and threatened thousands of homes and other structures, forcing residents to flee.

The Trailhead fire broke out Tuesday along the middle fork of the American River near Todd Valley, about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Flames spread amid dense vegetation and heavy timber in the remote area, forcing firefighters to initially depend on air tankers and helicopters. Hobby drones were twice spotted in the area and have grounded planes and delayed the firefight, according to Cal Fire.

The fire is threatening about 2,600 homes and other structures. No homes had been damagedas of Wednesday night, and no injuries had been reported, according to Cal Fire.

The fire has spread southward and was mostly active Wednesday in El Dorado County and the Eldorado National Forest.

Officials in El Dorado County issued evacuation orders to residents along more than 30 streets north of Georgetown. Mandatory evacuations were also issued for residents on several streets and in a mobile home park in Placer County, where the northern flank of the fire is burning.

The blaze is 12% contained and the cause is under investigation.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn. El Dorado County officials also designated Golden Sierra High School in Garden Valley as an evacuation shelter.

For more news in California, follow @MattHjourno.