CA Fire Goes On, But Firefighters Make Ground AP

California wildfire destroys more homes, but crews advance

The Associated Press - By By JANIE HAR - Associated Press

54 minutes ago

• 
  Evacuee Robert Jones, from Spring Valley, Calif., lies in a cot next to his dog Baby Girl at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  1 of 10
• 
  Cal Fire engineer Clint Singleton looks out at a plume of smoke near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  2 of 10
• 
  A helicopter carries water as it flies past a plume of smoke near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  3 of 10
• 
  Firefighters walk up a hill near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  4 of 10
• 
  A firefighter works on putting out a hot spot near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  5 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Katy Brogan, from Spring Valley, Calif., feeds her dog Mohawk at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  6 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Robert Harper, 11, from Spring Valley, Calif., gets served food by volunteers at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  7 of 10
• 
  Burned remains of a property is shown near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  8 of 10
• 
  A Sonoma Valley firefighter sprays water on a hot spot from the Rocky fire near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  9 of 10
• 
  A firefighter rests at a staging area near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  10 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Robert Jones, from Spring Valley, Calif., lies in a cot next to his dog Baby Girl at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  1 of 10
• 
  Cal Fire engineer Clint Singleton looks out at a plume of smoke near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  2 of 10
• 
  A helicopter carries water as it flies past a plume of smoke near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  3 of 10
• 
  Firefighters walk up a hill near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  4 of 10
• 
  A firefighter works on putting out a hot spot near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  5 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Katy Brogan, from Spring Valley, Calif., feeds her dog Mohawk at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  6 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Robert Harper, 11, from Spring Valley, Calif., gets served food by volunteers at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  7 of 10
• 
  Burned remains of a property is shown near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  8 of 10
• 
  A Sonoma Valley firefighter sprays water on a hot spot from the Rocky fire near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  9 of 10
• 
  A firefighter rests at a staging area near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  10 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Robert Jones, from Spring Valley, Calif., lies in a cot next to his dog Baby Girl at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  1 of 10
• 
  Cal Fire engineer Clint Singleton looks out at a plume of smoke near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  2 of 10
• 
  A helicopter carries water as it flies past a plume of smoke near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  3 of 10
• 
  Firefighters walk up a hill near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  4 of 10
• 
  A firefighter works on putting out a hot spot near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  5 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Katy Brogan, from Spring Valley, Calif., feeds her dog Mohawk at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  6 of 10
• 
  Evacuee Robert Harper, 11, from Spring Valley, Calif., gets served food by volunteers at the Moose Lodge, which is being used as a evacuation center, in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  7 of 10
• 
  Burned remains of a property is shown near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  8 of 10
• 
  A Sonoma Valley firefighter sprays water on a hot spot from the Rocky fire near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  9 of 10
• 
  A firefighter rests at a staging area near Clearlake, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Thousands of firefighters battling an unruly Northern California wildfire were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and higher humidity, but the fire is still less than a quarter contained. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

  10 of 10

 

LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) — Crews backed by important firefighting resources are gaining ground against a massive Northern California wildfire, but it may be several days before thousands of evacuees can return home, officials said Thursday.

Four more homes were destroyed overnight, bringing the total number of properties lost to 43. More than 13,000 people have been ordered or urged to leave their homes, vacation cabins and campsites since the blaze ignited July 29 about 100 miles north of San Francisco.

Dominic Polito, a fire spokesman, said he does not know when residents will be allowed back home.

"I would imagine they're going to make sure the line is completely contained before they do that," Polito said Thursday. "Plan on the next couple of days, and hopefully it's sooner than that."

Firefighters and equipment from outside the drought-stricken state have poured in to battle the blaze, which has chewed through more than 107 square miles of parched terrain and was 40 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Days after declaring a state of emergency, California Gov. Jerry Brown visited fire crews Thursday and thanked them for their efforts. He said the state is hotter and drier than it's ever been, making blazes more severe and extending the fire season.

Officials got ready for a drought-fueled fire season and built up staffs early with several hundred more firefighters than previous years, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

"We're definitely at a medium to high level of activity, but we're not at extreme, where we are low on resources by any means," he said.

The National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho has listed the fire as the nation's highest priority for crews and equipment. It is the largest of 23 fires statewide and takes up nearly a third of the 10,000 firefighters dispatched in California.

2015 The Associated Press

Previous Page

Next Page

Page 1 of 2

Share on emailEmail

 

You Might Also Like

• Kid Wrestles Monster Fish From Private Boat Dock!Promoted by Tuff Guy Stuff
• The Richest Woman in the World is Worth $41.7 BillionPromoted by Forbes
• How Rich People Use Credit Cards to Their AdvantagePromoted by NextAdvisor

• White officer recovering after shootout with black suspect
• Actress Charlize Theron adopts baby girl in US
• Crowd gathers in Honolulu to celebrate Jim Nabors' birthday

 

Promoted Stories

• Pay Off Your Credit Card Balance Faster Using This One Method NextAdvisor
• Must-Have Golf Clubs Being Sold for Next to Nothing LifeFactopia
• Celebrities Who Ended Up HomelessMadameNoire
• The Small Town That Has Something For Everyone! Aspen- Defy Ordinary
• Congress isn't Obama's Biggest Worry... GND News

You Might Also Like

• Sandra Lee hospitalized for cancer surgery complications
• A world apart: 2 women with birthdates in 1800s still alive
• Police: 61 arrested, 10 troopers injured at concert
• Reba McEntire, Narvel Blackstock announce separation
• 'Gut