California fire threatens resort

This wildfire blazing its way through the San Jacinto Mountains in southern California has already destroyed buildings including at least seven homes.

Now it's threatening the popular resort of Idyllwild and the neighbouring community of Fern Valley.

Residents have been told to evacuate the area.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) JEFF TAYLOR, FERN VALLEY RESIDENT, SAYING:

"The bad thing here is that the fire is on the ridge and they didn't know if they could stop it if it ever passed the ridge, so it's not looking good."

(SOUNDBITE)(English) RON KORMAN, FERN VALLEY RESIDENT, SAYING:

"If we were to get an easterly win we would be toast down here."

By late on Wednesday the fire had destroyed at least 7, 700 hectares of woodland and scrub.

Nearly 3, 000 fire-fighters are tackling the flames with some success carving containment lines around a sixth of the perimeter.

The inferno is one of the most severe of the 16 or so wildfires raging in several w