Uncontained wildfire threatens town near San Diego

REUTERS - A fast-growing wildfire in San Diego County has moved into the town of Alpine, forcing people to evacuate as it destroyed several homes and ranches. The West Fire started on Friday (July 6) morning and has burned over 400 acres with just five%contained. Most people living in the town of Alpine, about 25 miles east of San Diego, have left the area. Its unknown how many structures have been destroyed. Fires have raged through more than 2.8 million acres in the United States this year through Thursday, above the average of about 2.4 million acres for the same period over the last 10 years, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Fire-fighting efforts across the Southwest have been hampered by the scorching heat, low humidity and erratic winds.