By — Ariel Min Ariel Min Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/photos-rocky-fire-in-northern-california-burns-60000-acres Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Photos: Northern California wild fire rages, burning 60,000 acres Nation Aug 3, 2015 4:03 PM EDT A massive wild fire that started last Wednesday in Northern California grew quickly to 60,000 acres Monday, according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website. So far, it’s only 12 percent contained. The so-called Rocky Fire has destroyed at least 24 homes in Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties northwest of Sacramento, shutting major roads and forcing at least 12,000 residents around the area to evacuate their homes. The CAL FIRE site said at least 2,900 firefighters have been working to stop the fire in the rough terrain. Firefighters work to dig a fire line on the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters The cause of the fire is still under investigation. But with California’s ongoing drought in its fourth year, the grass and trees are extremely dry with low humidity and no rain. Most of California’s blazes were sparked by lightening, or “dry thunderstorms,” which are lightening and wind with little to no rain. Firefighters watch the Rocky Fire advance in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Saturday in the wake of the wild fires in California, saying the drought and lowest winter snowpack have “turned much of the state into a tinderbox.” In April, the state ordered mandatory water restrictions due to the unyielding climate. An air tanker drops fire retardant along a ridge to help contain the Rocky fire near Clearlake, California on August 2, 2015. Photo by Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images A firefighter watches for spot fires at the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters A helicopter drops water to protect a home from the rapidly moving Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters An oak tree ignites at the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters A large plume of smoke rises from the Rocky Fire near Clearlake, CA on Aug. 1, 2015. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Firefighters race to battle a spot fire at the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters A helicopter drops water on the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters More than 2,000 firefighters are battling the Rocky Fire that has burned over 60,000 acres since it started on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A plume of smoke rises into the air from the Rocky fire near Clearlake, California on August 2, 2015. The fire grew rapidly overnight. Photo by Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images The Rocky Fire burns through a fence line in Lake County, California. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters By — Ariel Min Ariel Min @ariellamin
A massive wild fire that started last Wednesday in Northern California grew quickly to 60,000 acres Monday, according to California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website. So far, it’s only 12 percent contained. The so-called Rocky Fire has destroyed at least 24 homes in Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties northwest of Sacramento, shutting major roads and forcing at least 12,000 residents around the area to evacuate their homes. The CAL FIRE site said at least 2,900 firefighters have been working to stop the fire in the rough terrain. Firefighters work to dig a fire line on the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters The cause of the fire is still under investigation. But with California’s ongoing drought in its fourth year, the grass and trees are extremely dry with low humidity and no rain. Most of California’s blazes were sparked by lightening, or “dry thunderstorms,” which are lightening and wind with little to no rain. Firefighters watch the Rocky Fire advance in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Saturday in the wake of the wild fires in California, saying the drought and lowest winter snowpack have “turned much of the state into a tinderbox.” In April, the state ordered mandatory water restrictions due to the unyielding climate. An air tanker drops fire retardant along a ridge to help contain the Rocky fire near Clearlake, California on August 2, 2015. Photo by Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images A firefighter watches for spot fires at the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters A helicopter drops water to protect a home from the rapidly moving Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters An oak tree ignites at the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters A large plume of smoke rises from the Rocky Fire near Clearlake, CA on Aug. 1, 2015. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Firefighters race to battle a spot fire at the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters A helicopter drops water on the Rocky Fire in Lake County, California July 30, 2015. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters More than 2,000 firefighters are battling the Rocky Fire that has burned over 60,000 acres since it started on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A plume of smoke rises into the air from the Rocky fire near Clearlake, California on August 2, 2015. The fire grew rapidly overnight. Photo by Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images The Rocky Fire burns through a fence line in Lake County, California. Photo by Max Whittaker/Reuters