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Placer County 'Robbers Fire' Burns 1400 Acres; 170 Homes Evacuated

FORESTHILL (CBS / AP) -- Fire officials said about 170 homes outside the Placer County community of Colfax remained under evacuation orders as a wildfire burns for the fourth day.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said the flames were bumping right up to homes in the Yankee Jim and Iowa Hill area on Saturday. Officials were concerned that the fire could jump the American River and threaten Foresthill, a community of about 1,500.

Hot weather and steep, rugged terrain have made it difficult for the 2,000 firefighters there to surround the fire. It has burned about 1,400 acres since it began Wednesday, and is just 20 percent contained.

Earlier Saturday, fire officials confirmed no homes were lost overnight.

About 300 people living near the community of Colfax remained out of their homes as the so-called Robbers Fire burned in an area of steep canyons and thick forests.

Meanwhile, a fire burning to the northwest is 50 percent contained after consuming about 40 square miles of the Mendocino National Forest.

Officials say the Mill Fire has destroyed five outbuildings and three people have been hurt. Fire crews hope to be able to have that fire contained by Friday.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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