‘Rocky Fire’ Burns 60,000 Acres in Northern California

A massive wildfire in Northern California called the Rocky Fire has scorched 60,000 acres and threatened thousands of structures as firefighters struggle to contain the fast-moving blaze.

The fire has burned more than 60,000 acres in Lake, Yolo and Colusa Counties in the northern part of the state, according to the CalFIRE incident website. The fire was just 12 percent contained as of 8:00 a.m. Monday morning.

The agency reported that more than 13,000 residents in 5,530 structures are under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders. 50 structures were totally consumed by the blaze, while an additional three structures were damaged. In all, 6,301 buildings remain threatened by the wildfire.

Nearly 3,000 fire personnel are actively fighting the blaze, the agency reported.

“Firefighters are working aggressively to build control lines and sustain perimeter control,” CalFIRE said in an update. “The terrain is steep and rugged with limited access, fuels are at critical levels and there is little to no fire history in the area.”

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, firefighters working to battle the Rocky Fire got some good news later Monday with the arrival of slightly cooler temperatures and moist air into Northern California.

“The plus that Mother Nature is giving is that we do have moisture in the area,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Bingaman told the Los Angeles Times.

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for the following areas: Ogulin Canyon Road, Spring Valley, Paradise Canyon, New Long Valley Road, Old Long Valley Road, Salt Canyon, Indian Hill Road, Flaming Hills Lane, Benmore Canyon, Red Rock Road, Red Rock Court, Round Mountain Road, North West of Highway 22, Fern Way, Juniper Way, Holly Way, Golden Red Way, Shasta Road, Cougar Road, Jeep Trail, Smith Lane, Pueblo Trail, Quail Trail, Ogulin Canyon Road, Meadow Creek Road, Cache Creek Road, Wolf Creek Road, Spring Valley Road, Riverview Road, Rocky Ridge, Chalk Mountain Road, Lakeview Campground, Cache Creek Winery, Noggle Winery, Elm Way, Dogwood, Cedar, Blue Berry, Acacia Way, Acacia Street, Doe Trail, Madrone Way, Peach Way, Quince Way, Redwood Way, Sequoia Way, Tamarack Way, Weeping Willow Way, Yucca Way, Coyote Way, Elk Way and Fox Way.