"MANTON, Calif. — Aided by a shift in wind direction, firefighters made a stand against a huge lightning-sparked wildfire burning on the edge of three small Northern California towns."

"The blaze, which grew to more than 25 square miles late Monday continued to threaten thousands of homes, as fearful residents sought safety miles away at an emergency shelter.

'All we can do is pray,' evacuee Jerry Nottingham told reporters.

Still, with more firefighters arriving on the scene and shifting winds helping to keep the blaze away from homes, officials said fire crews were able to improve their lines around the wildfire."

The Associated Press had the story August 21, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"America Hit With Record Devastation From Wildfires" (Mother Jones) [3]

"With Ponderosa Fire, the West Blazes -- and This Is 'Average'" (Los Angeles Times) [4]

"Ponderosa Fire Tops 16,000 Acres" (Redding Searchlight-Record) [5]