NEW : Half of Paradise 's 26,000 residents have been forced to evacuate . NEW : The blaze has torched 40 homes in the area , officials say . Score: 7 More than 614,000 acres have burned in California in past few weeks .
NEW : Half of Paradise 's 26,000 residents have been forced to evacuate . NEW : The blaze has torched 40 homes in the area , officials say . Wind gusts , high temperatures make task harder for firefighters . More than 614,000 acres have burned in California in past few weeks .