The blaze, which started Saturday near San Francisco, has exploded in size as dry weather sweeps western states

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A vast wildfire in rural northern California has exploded in size and forced evacuations in hot, dry weather that is sweeping through several western states where blazes are threatening thousands of homes.



The fast-moving fire that started over the weekend north-west of Sacramento grew dramatically to about 70 sq miles (180 sq km) by Monday, largely burning out of control in rugged terrain, marked by a few cattle and horse ranches, and sending smoke and ash as far south as San Francisco.

The fire that started Saturday about 100 miles (160 km) north-east of San Francisco spread as strong winds pushed smoke south, dusting cars and homes with a thin layer of gray ash. About 300 people were told to flee their homes, and more than 100 buildings were threatened. No injuries were reported.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A burning pasture in California. The fire has been described as ‘extremely fast-moving’. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

The flames were chewing through 1.5 sq miles (four sq km) of rugged terrain an hour, said the California department of forestry and fire protection spokesman, Gabe Lauderbale.

“This fire is absolutely, extremely fast-moving,” he said.

Slightly cooler temperatures were forecast later Monday but gusty winds that could spread the blaze also were expected, Lauderbale said.

The hot, windy conditions fueling the fire and others across the west were expected to persist through the end of July in Utah and parts of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, US fire officials said. The south-west, which has been struggling with drought, should get enough rain in early July to reduce the risk of major blazes in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, the National Interagency Fire Center said Sunday.

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In Colorado, more than 2,500 homes were under evacuation orders as firefighters battled more than half a dozen wildfires. Most of the evacuations were tied to a 78-sq-mile (202-sq-km) wildfire in southern Colorado that led to the arrest of a Danish man on arson charges.

Jesper Joergensen, 52, initially said he had started a fire to burn trash but then said he had been grilling in a permanent fire pit the day before the blaze began, according to a court document.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A firefighter attacks a hot spot. Photograph: Sacramento Bee/TNS/Sipa USA/REX/Shutterstock

Joergensen, who reported the wildfire, said it started about 20 ft (six meters) away from the fire pit Wednesday and he tried to put it out, an arrest affidavit says. It says about 25 buildings had been destroyed as of Thursday, when he was arrested. Authorities have not released other details on damage.

Joergensen has been living in the country illegally, the document says, and federal immigration officials have requested that they be allowed to take custody of him if he is released from jail.

It is not clear if he has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

People have fled about 570 homes near a two-sq-mile (six-sq-km) fire that started Friday west of Colorado Springs.

In neighboring Wyoming, about 150 firefighters tried to contain a wildfire burning in the Medicine Bow national forest near the Colorado border. It has burned about 33 sq miles (85 sq km) since 10 June. The fire is about 80% contained but flared up in the last week.

A wildfire burning in hot and dry conditions in Utah has forced the evacuation of about seven to 10 seasonal cabins near a popular fishing reservoir. The fire has scorched about 10 sq miles (25 sq km) near Strawberry Reservoir and officials believe it is human-caused but are investigating.