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California wildfire threatening 2,000 homes shows 'explosive growth' Man arrested on suspicion of arson in 'explosive' California wildfire
(about 5 hours later)
An out-of-control wildfire that was threatening more than 2,000 homes in Northern California showed explosive growth, consuming tens of thousands of additional acres, fire officials said Thursday. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in an out-of-control Northern California wildfire that has driven nearly 2,800 people from their homes as it continues to grow, authorities said Thursday.
The fire east of Sacramento had burned through 111 square miles, up from 44 square miles on Wednesday when it forced additional evacuations, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It was only 5% contained. Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, is suspected of starting the fire east of Sacramento on Saturday, authorities said at a news conference.
Most of the threatened homes were in Pollock Pines, 60 miles east of Sacramento. Hundreds of them were under evacuation orders, but it wasn’t immediately clear exactly how many. By Thursday, the blaze had burned through 111 square miles as winds surged to 25 mph and continued to fuel its rapid expansion, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It was 5% contained.
Much of the fire growth on Wednesday was to the northwest, away from the town, according to Cal Fire. “This fire is definitely eye-opening,” Cal Fire spokeswoman Alyssa Smith said.
Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency late Wednesday, freeing up funds for the two fires. Brown had also secured federal grants to fight each of them. The blaze has been fueled by heavy timber and grass that is extremely dry because of California’s third straight year of drought.
Fire crews might get some help from the weather on Thursday, with the forecast calling for higher humidity and the possibility of rain. Many of the more than 2,000 threatened homes were in Pollock Pines, 60 miles east of Sacramento. Though the fire grew substantially late Wednesday, it burned mostly into wilderness land in the El Dorado National Forest away from the town, according to Cal Fire.
Meanwhile, further north in the town of Weed, where a blaze began Monday and raged across the community, teams of firefighters went house-to-house Wednesday to pin down damage by a wildfire that officials estimated had destroyed 110 homes and damaged another 90. The blaze was burning about 20 miles from the Desolation Wilderness, a popular hiking area south of Lake Tahoe.
The new figures were a marked increase from the initial estimate that a total of 150 structures had been destroyed or damaged in the blaze that rapidly swept across the town. Four firefighters lost their homes. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency late Wednesday, freeing up funds for the two fires. Brown also had secured federal grants to fight each of them.
Two churches, a community center and the library also burned to the ground, while an elementary school and the city’s last wood-products mill were damaged by flames that had been pushed by 40-mph winds. Rain was possible in the area Thursday, though more gusty, erratic winds also were expected, and there was a chance of lightning.
Meanwhile, farther north in the town of Weed, teams of firefighters went house-to-house Wednesday to survey damage by a wildfire that officials estimated had destroyed 110 homes and damaged another 90. The damage assessment was expected to continue Thursday.
Four firefighters lost their homes. Two churches, a community center and the library also burned to the ground, while an elementary school and the city’s last wood-products mill were damaged by flames that were pushed by 40-mph winds.
Insurance companies worked to find places to live for the people who lost their homes.Insurance companies worked to find places to live for the people who lost their homes.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation. It was 60% contained after burning 375 acres. The cause of the blaze that rapidly swept across town was under investigation. It was 65% contained after burning 375 acres.
Burned neighborhoods remained off-limits, but people have been finding ways in.
The Reverend Bill Hofer, pastor of Weed Berean Church, said power was back on in his home, which was still standing on the edge of the devastation zone, and he was planning to return Wednesday night – despite the evacuation order – to deter vandalism.
“The more people home with the lights on, the better,” he said.