Property losses from the northern California blaze, dubbed the "Rocky Fire," have now doubled as the inferno continued to rage for a seventh day through the dry lands north of the Napa Valley wine country.
The "Rocky Fire" blaze started on July 29, in the foothills and canyons east of the town of Clearlake, around 110 miles from San Francisco, reports Reuters U.K.. The fire has destroyed more than 68,000 acres as of Wednesday, August 5, and reduced 91 structures to ash. These structures consisted of 39 homes and 52 outbuildings. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (Cal Fire), the count is higher than the previous tally of 50 structures already damaged by the fire. Cal Fire warned that the number of property losses may still rise, as damage-assessment teams are able to reach more recently burned areas.
The Reuters report also mentioned nearly 7,000 structures, made up mostly of residences, remain threatened by the "Rocky Fire." Around 13,000 people were also given evacuation orders or advised to leave their homes. The authorities have also closed off portions of two major state highways in the area. The containment area for the fire also remained at 20 percent, states Cal Fire, despite flames destroying another 1,000-plus acres of landscape. The containment area pertains to how much of the fire's perimeter has been enclosed by natural barriers or is within the buffer lines carved by ground crews. Cal Fire already deployed close to 3,500 firefighters to the area to help contain the blaze.
It is still unknown what sparked the blaze, although Brandon Collins, research scientist for UC Berkeley's Center for Fire Research and Outreach, mentioned that "climate change and drought is causing the fires," as reported on Rapid News Network.
Meanwhile, residents and other concerned individuals are also helping the evacuees by handing out items such as food and pillows. Tabetha Atwood, owner of Our Happy Tails Etc., a dog bakery in Clearlake, also helped to match owners with the dogs found in the area Tuesday. Atwood is also saddened over the massive destruction that the fire caused. "These are our friends, our family and our neighbors", she said. "My heart is heavy at the thought of my once epic view of the valley that had an array of life and colors now grey and lifeless".
The "Rocky Fire" is just one of the nearly two dozen fires that erupted in the state, after the numerous dry lightning strikes from previous days. President Obama was briefed about the "Rocky Fire" status Tuesday, states Rapid News Network, and reportedly advised his aides to keep in touch with the California officials handling the situation.
