Wildfire drives residents from homes

HATHAWAY PINES, California (CNN) -- Three California subdivisions were evacuated Wednesday after a wildfire sprang up and burned out of control.

The fire, which started around 5:30 p.m. PDT (8:30 p.m. EDT) in the Stanislaus River Canyon, has consumed about 300 acres, according to Calaveras County Sheriff's Department spokesman Rex Barnes.

Barnes said the fire is burning in rugged terrain in the canyon and firefighters were trying to get equipment in to fight the blaze. He said the cause of the fire is not known.

Residents of the Canyon View, Indian Hills, and Sunrise subdivisions were evacuated from their homes.

Hathaway Pines is about 50 miles northeast of Modesto.