Rocky Fire, north of San Francisco, spreads to 15,000 acres
CLEAR LAKE, Calif. -- Fourteen large fires are burning Friday, mostly in the scorched northern half of California, where by bone-dry vegetation, triple-digit temperatures, gusting winds and incessant drought are only making matters worse.
A handful of homes have been consumed by the flames and hundreds of people chased from their houses as thousands of firefighters work to corral the blazes.
"They only need a little wind to allow them to burn at an explosive rate," said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection.
More than 7,000 firefighters continue to battle the Rocky Fire, a wildfire burning in Lake County that has now spread to over 15,000 acres. It is only five percent contained.
The fast-spreading wildfire north of San Francisco nearly doubled overnight, charring 23 square miles and torching a third home.
At least 650 residents have been evacuated from their homes as the blaze raged in hills covered in dense brush and oak trees and dotted with ranch homes. It is burning near Lower Lake, south of Clear Lake, a popular summer recreation spot.
The California National Guard on Thursday sent a fleet of eight helicopters to back up Cal Fire crews. They are dousing flames with water and help move around firefighters and their equipment.
PHOTOS: Smoke from Lower Lake area wildfire seen for miles
According to Cal Fire, mandatory evacuations have been issued for Double Eagle Ranch and homes along the Highway 20 corridor between New Long Valley Road and east to the county line. Evacuations are still in effect for the area north of Morgan Valley and East of Bonham Road, Jerusalem Grade Road, Spruce Grove Road, Noble Ranch Road and Cantwell Ranch Road.
Residents are being asked to stay away from the area, so emergency personnel can concentrate on fighting the fire and evacuate residents.
So far, no injuries have been reported.
HOMES DESTROYED
A separate fire near the small town of Isleton in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta burned six or seven mobile homes Thursday evening before firefighters got it under control, said Steve Cantelme, chief of the Sacramento office of Emergency Services.
Cantelme said the fire was out Thursday night but crews remained on the scene raking through debris to ensure that no hot embers could reignite it.
Video showed mobile homes engulfed in wind-whipped flames at a property called Korth's Pirate's Lair Marina. Owner Kande Korth said everyone got out safely.
FIRE LINES HOLDING
Crews battling a fire east of Napa Valley held their ground Friday, more than a week after it started.
The blaze has charred more than 12 square miles in Solano County. The fire is about 45 miles east of Napa's wine county, and vineyards are not threatened.
At least 136 structures are threatened, but evacuation orders have been lifted. It mostly contained, and crews are expecting to have it fully corralled by Monday.
FOOTHILLS FIRES
A small fire near Groveland, a stop-off point for travelers headed to Yosemite National Park, has forced evacuations.
The 265-acre fire 20 miles from the park's entrance was partially contained Friday.
In a separate foothills blaze northeast of Sacramento, evacuation orders have been lifted for residents of 50 homes. The fire, which ignited Saturday, burned through more than 3 1/2 square miles and is almost fully contained.
BASS LAKE BLAZE
Residents of 200 homes in the central California community of Cascadel Woods were ordered to evacuate Thursday.
A wildfire burning near Bass Lake for several days spread to more than 6 square miles and is partially percent contained.
Authorities say a boy acknowledged starting the fire by playing with a lighter to burn pine needles in the dry Sierra Nevada. They say the boy faces criminal charges but is not in custody because he and his family are cooperating.
IN THE FAR NORTH
Three smaller fires in the far north that started Wednesday each prompted evacuations. Two in Shasta County, 130 miles south of the Oregon border, were more than half contained.
