As an alleged arsonist is set to make his court appearance Friday, the unwieldy wildfire that officials say he deliberately sparked in Northern California is showing no signs of slowing down. The fire in the steep canyons of El Dorado County grew to more than 73,000 acres early Friday — nearly the size of Atlanta — and is only 10 percent contained since it started Saturday, according to the latest figures.
“With the return of higher temperatures and lower humidity (Friday) or Saturday, the active fire behavior is expected to return,” officials warned as the blaze continues to burn…
Fire approaches the shore of Bass Lake, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2014. Darvin Atkeson—APA firefighter battling the King Fire watches as a backfire burns along Highway 50 in Fresh Pond, California September 16, 2014. Noah Berger—ReutersA firefighter works the line of a controlled burn to create a safe zone around homes close to the King Fire in the town of Pollock Pines, Calif. on Sept. 17, 2014. Alvin Jornada—EPAFire strike crews battle the King fire in El Dorado County near Fresh Pond on Sept. 17, 2014. Randall Benton—Sacramento Bee/ZUMAPRESSSmoke from a wildfire rises into the sky near Pollack Pines, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014. Rich Pedroncelli—APA firefighting helicopter makies a water drop over a wildfire at Bass Lake, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2014. Darvin Atkeson—APEric Collin, left, and Jenny Shakman embrace each other for the first time after their homes were burned to the ground along Black Bart Trail above Redwood Valley Calif. on Sept. 15, 2014. Kent Porter—APFirefighters hose down hot spots of the King Fire near Pollack Pines, Calif., on Sept. 15, 2014. Rich Pedroncelli—APCollin Herman, of Healdsburg Calif., leaves a fire truck in Redwood Valley, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014. Kent Porter—APA helicopter makes a water drop while a second picks up water to fight a wildfire at Bass Lake, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2014. Darvin Atkeson—APThe Boles fire burns along a ridge in Weed, Calif. on Sept. 15, 2014.Greg Barnette—APFirefighters battle the King Fire in Fresh Pond, Calif. on Sept. 17, 2014. Noah Berger—ReutersA burned utility pole rests on a burned-out car that sits among the remains of a destroyed home on Sept. 16, 2014 in Weed, Calif.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesA firefighter walks through smoke while battling the King Fire near Fresh Pond, California September 17, 2014.Noah Berger—Reuters
