Calif. wildfire threatens thousands of homes

Greg Toppo | USATODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption California wildfires spreading in record speed A fast-moving wildfire already burning more than 60,000 acres across Northern California is described as "unprecedented" by authorities.

A massive, fast-moving wildfire has destroyed at least 24 homes and threatens another 6,300 in a drought-stricken area about 100 miles north of San Francisco.

The so-called Rocky Fire was only about 5% contained by late Sunday. It was just one of 21 large wildfires burning statewide, fire officials said.

Wildfires were also burning in Washington and Oregon as the West Coast suffered from the effects of drought and summer heat.

Fueled by triple-digit temperatures, single-digit humidity and erratic winds, the Rocky Fire more than doubled in size overnight Saturday into Sunday: It went from just over 20,000 acres on Saturday to 47,000 acres on Sunday, said the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CalFire. By late Sunday, it had grown to 54,000 acres.

"The grass, the brush, the trees, they are tinder-dry," said CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant. More than 12,000 people had been evacuated from the area around Clearlake, Calif., located about 100 miles north of San Francisco and 100 miles northwest of Sacramento. The fire originated Wednesday afternoon. By Sunday, fire crews were assisted by four C-130 air tankers based in Colorado.

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and activated the California National Guard to help with disaster recovery.

Many of the California blazes were sparked by lightning, and more than 8,000 firefighters were working to battle them. The danger was expected to continue with scattered thunderstorms and gusty winds forecast for some areas of Northern California into Monday, state fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

There has also been a human toll: One firefighter was killed on Thursday at the scene of a fire 100 miles south of the Oregon border. Engine Capt. David Ruhl, a South Dakota firefighter, was killed battling a fast-moving blaze that broke out in the Modoc National Forest. He was in a vehicle looking for ways to fight the blaze when officials lost contact with him. His body was recovered Friday.

Part of a Black Hills National Forest firefighting team, Ruhl had been helping California firefighters since June.

Four other firefighters were burned in blaze near Sacramento.

Contributing: KXTV-TV, Sacramento; The Associated Press