A wildfire in northern California has destroyed at least 67 homes near the resort town of Shasta Lake and forced hundreds of people to flee, officials said. The blaze, started by sparks from a lawnmower, scorched 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) by Thursday evening, said Mel Cagel, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry. The fire was 50 percent contained. The 67 homes were just south of Lake Shasta, said CDF spokesman Jim Sweet.
