An explosive, fast-moving wildfire tore through several Northern California communities, killing eight people including two children, destroying dozens of structures and sending terrified residents fleeing in miles-long traffic jams.
The Carr Fire's wind-driven flames swept through the communities of Shasta and Keswick before jumping the Sacramento River on Thursday and reaching Redding, a city of about 92,000 people and the largest in the region.
Residents in the western part of Redding who had not been under evacuation orders were caught off guard and had to flee with little notice.
