Vehicle sparks may have caused Calif. wildfire

Residents returned to their homes Wednesday after battling the fire for days

WEAVERVILLE, California (CNN) -- Investigators believe sparks from a vehicle may have caused a wildfire that forced the temporary evacuation of this historic town and destroyed nine homes and three recreational vehicles.

Residents returned to their homes here in northwestern California late Wednesday, and the fire was about 75 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"It's looking good today. The winds are really low, and the humidity is high," said Tammy Clark, a volunteer with the forestry department. She said about 1,680 acres of woods remained in flames Thursday and about 1,360 firefighters were on the front lines.

Clark said investigators are looking at sparks from a vehicle as a possible cause of the blaze, but she had no further details. The start of the blaze, she said, appeared to be accidental.

As residents returned, most were relieved to find their homes still standing.

Ray Profitt lost his garage and camper, but his house was untouched by the flames.

"It was still burning," he said of the site. "I thought I'd lost the house because they said everything was gone."

David Ohde, another resident, said his son, a firefighter, helped to save his house.

The fire in Weaverville was just one of 23 large wildfires being fought throughout the West, burning some 226,576 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

Besides California, wildfires were burning in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

"Things are looking really good today overall," said Scott Sticha, an information officer. He cautioned, however, that the long-range forecast called for hot, dry weather.

"It's not over yet," he said of the fire season. "So we're asking people to really be careful. Don't add to the workload."