Unruly Northern California fire keeping growing

Flames from a backfire operation burn through a grove of trees as firefighters try to head off the Rocky Fire on August 3, 2015 near Clearlake, California.

Clear Lake >> This is the blaze Californians have feared all year, the ferocious Rocky Fire burning near Clear Lake that has destroyed more than two dozen homes, thrown firefighters on their heels and hit with the kind of force long-dreaded because of the state’s historic drought.

“There’s a lot of old growth-type vegetation and four years of drought to dry it all out”, said Lynne Tolmachoff, a Cal Fire spokeswoman.

The fire had grown to about 3 acres by Saturday, and it was 5 percent contained. They set up their mobile camper with free power and water hook-ups, thanks to the Hidden Valley Lake Community Association.

Across the state, almost 10,000 firefighters are working on 21 fires, officials say. “While it may seem unusual to have a fire of this size burning in a rain forest, this is a reflection of severe conditions-the driest spring in over 100 years and a snowpack that was only 14% of average”, said a government fire update.

In fact, the efforts were so successful that Cal Fire was sending some crews back to their stations, and Battalion Chief Greg Neeley said Monday that firefighters were able to reduce their 24-hour shifts to 12 hours.

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

“Firefighter Ruhl will be remembered for his service and bravery, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues with the U.S. Forest Service”, Brown said as he directed the capitol to put its flags at half-staff in Ruhl’s honor.

The northern part of the state is the worst-hit by fires, where forests were completely engulfed by the infernos, and several stretches of highway were forced closed.

Around 6,300 structures – homes, barns, sheds and other buildings – remained under threat after the loss of 24 dwellings and 26 outbuildings last week.

It wasn’t easy. He was ordered to evacuate Sunday, but he defied that order until Monday, when he grabbed his dog and reluctantly abandoned his home sweet home, he said.

Firefighting requires the C-130s to fly very low and very slow, and that requires the pilots to be extra attentive and the entire aircrew to provide more support than on other missions, Fairbanks said.

The Rocky Fire isn’t the only destructive blaze in California right now.

Crews battled 20 other wildfires in California – some sparked by lightning – though none was as big as the Lower Lake blaze.

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels Monday night also helped firefighters battle the flames. Its cause was still under investigation, the agency said. Thirteen thousand people were evacuated according to Cal Fire.