Homes threatened as fire spreads near California ski resort

A weeks-old wildfire that has now burned across 60 square miles was bearing down Friday on a popular recreational lake near Kings Canyon National Park in California, officials said.

Pieces of foundation, charred metal pipes, broken dishes and a burned-out pickup truck were all that remained of the Kings Canyon lodge, which bills itself as a folksy getaway for tourists.

Crews are doing everything they can to protect Hume Lake and the surrounding areas from the Rough Fire, which has grown to more than 41,000 acres with 3 percent containment. Infrared mapping found the fires spread about 19 square miles Saturday evening. Park staff continues to work closely with the Rough Fire Incident Management Team to monitor fire activity. “It’s the people involved”.

“Although not yet safe, we praise the Lord for each passing day as the burn area near Hume begins to cool”, the blog said.

There is also an effort underway to find a hiker who got separated from her group near Horseshoe Lake.

“Now thanks to the favorable weather and conditions they are able to go direct to the line where the fire is coming”, he said.

They’re packing up satellite gear and other equipment to be the IT and communications center for military fire crews battling the wildfires in California and elsewhere on the West Coast. Evacuations have been ordered in the rural area as the fire moves toward Tracy. However, they are expecting a change in the winds and lower humidity this weekend, which could make it even harder to fight this very large fire.

On Sunday evening, the state Department of Health said that should nearby wildfires reach the site of a now-defunct uranium mine in Stevens County in eastern Washington, the smoke won’t be any more toxic than the standard smoke from a wildfire.

Authorities on Friday asked for the public’s help in identifying the vehicle that they believe sparked the fire because of a mechanical problem or a dragging chain on U.S. 101 on Sunday.