Evacuation orders are in place for a growing wildfire burning east of Lake Oroville in Butte County. The Ponderosa Fire broke out just after one o’clock yesterday afternoon near Ponderosa Way and Lumpkin Road near Forbestown, and has destroyed at least nine homes. That fire has burned a thousand acres and is still burning out of control. Evacuation centers have been set up at the Church of the Nazarene on Monte Vista Avenue in Oroville and another is in the Ponderosa Community Center on Ponderosa Way.

There’s also a fire burning in the Sierraville-Loyalton area in Plumas County. CalFire officials say that one started around 6 o’clock last night. The Dota Fire has burned 150 acres and is listed as 75 percent contained.

–gf